CVE-2017-6833 in audiofile
Summary
by MITRE
The runPull function in libaudiofile/modules/BlockCodec.cpp in Audio File Library (aka audiofile) 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (divide-by-zero error and crash) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The CVE-2017-6833 vulnerability resides within the Audio File Library implementation where the runPull function in libaudiofile/modules/BlockCodec.cpp exhibits a critical flaw that can be exploited to trigger a divide-by-zero error leading to system crash. This vulnerability specifically affects version 0.3.6 of the audiofile library, which is widely used for handling various audio file formats in multimedia applications and systems. The flaw occurs during the processing of malformed audio files that contain crafted data structures designed to manipulate the audio decoding pipeline.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the BlockCodec.cpp module where the runPull function fails to properly validate numeric parameters before performing division operations. When a maliciously crafted audio file is processed, the function attempts to divide by zero due to uninitialized or malformed parameters in the audio frame data structure. This type of error represents a classic software bug that falls under the CWE-369 vulnerability category, specifically CWE-369: Divide by Zero, which is classified as a weakness in software design that can lead to system instability and potential denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes as it can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt services that depend on audio file processing capabilities. Systems utilizing the affected audiofile library may experience complete service unavailability when processing malicious audio content, making this particularly dangerous in environments where audio processing is critical such as media servers, streaming platforms, or multimedia applications. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web applications that allow users to upload audio files, media processing pipelines, or any system that accepts and processes audio content without proper validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6833 should prioritize immediate patching of the audiofile library to version 0.3.7 or later where the divide-by-zero condition has been properly addressed through enhanced input validation and parameter checking. Organizations should implement comprehensive file validation mechanisms that sanitize all incoming audio content before processing, including checks for malformed headers, invalid frame sizes, and unexpected parameter values. Network-level protections such as content filtering and sandboxing of audio processing components can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries may leverage such flaws to establish persistent access through service disruption, and T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, which specifically addresses attacks targeting system availability through resource exhaustion or error conditions. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious audio file processing patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.