CVE-2017-16942 in libsndfile
Summary
by MITRE
In libsndfile 1.0.25 (fixed in 1.0.26), a divide-by-zero error exists in the function wav_w64_read_fmt_chunk() in wav_w64.c, which may lead to DoS when playing a crafted audio file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16942 represents a critical divide-by-zero error within the libsndfile library version 1.0.25, specifically affecting the wav_w64_read_fmt_chunk() function located in the wav_w64.c source file. This flaw constitutes a classic denial-of-service condition that can be exploited through the careful crafting of audio files designed to trigger the erroneous arithmetic operation. The libsndfile library serves as a comprehensive audio file processing library widely utilized across various multimedia applications, operating systems, and development environments for handling numerous audio formats including wav, aiff, and others. The vulnerability manifests when the library attempts to parse malformed wav or w64 format audio files, particularly during the reading of format chunks where the software encounters a division operation with a zero denominator.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of audio file headers and metadata within wav or w64 container formats. When the wav_w64_read_fmt_chunk() function processes a crafted file, it performs calculations that rely on values extracted from the file's format chunk, specifically involving the division of audio sample rates or block alignment values by zero. This mathematical impossibility causes the application to crash or hang indefinitely, effectively rendering the vulnerable system or application unusable. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-369, which addresses divide-by-zero conditions in software implementations, and can be categorized under the broader category of input validation failures that compromise system stability and availability. The vulnerability affects any application or system that utilizes libsndfile 1.0.25 or earlier versions for audio file processing, including media players, audio editing software, and multimedia frameworks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it represents a significant threat to service availability and user experience across numerous platforms. Applications that incorporate libsndfile for audio processing may become completely unresponsive when attempting to load maliciously crafted audio files, potentially affecting everything from desktop media players to server-based audio processing systems. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt audio services, compromise user productivity, or serve as a vector for more sophisticated attacks that leverage the resulting system instability. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal skill level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by unsuspecting users through normal media playback operations. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector for denial-of-service attacks that can be deployed across multiple systems without requiring elevated privileges or specialized knowledge.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16942 primarily focus on upgrading to libsndfile version 1.0.26 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the divide-by-zero condition. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected applications and libraries that depend on libsndfile, particularly those handling user-provided audio content. Additional protective measures include implementing input validation and sanitization for audio files, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file handling patterns, and establishing robust application sandboxing to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates. The fix implemented in version 1.0.26 addresses the root cause by introducing proper validation checks that prevent the execution of division operations with zero denominators, thereby eliminating the crash condition while maintaining full functionality of the audio processing library. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software dependencies and implementing comprehensive security testing practices for multimedia libraries and frameworks that process untrusted input data.