CVE-2017-6839 in audiofile
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in modules/MSADPCM.cpp in Audio File Library (aka audiofile) 0.3.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted file.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6839 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Audio File Library version 0.3.6, specifically within the modules/MSADPCM.cpp component. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and arithmetic handling when processing specially crafted audio files that utilize MSADPCM format encoding. The vulnerability manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can be triggered by attackers who supply maliciously constructed audio files to systems utilizing this library. The flaw occurs during the parsing of audio data where integer overflow conditions cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably, effectively rendering the affected system unavailable to legitimate users.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic operations within the MSADPCM decoding module. When processing audio files with malformed header values or data structures, the library fails to properly validate the size parameters and buffer dimensions before performing calculations. This leads to integer overflow conditions where calculated values exceed the maximum representable integer values, causing unexpected behavior in memory allocation and data processing operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow or wraparound, which represents a well-documented class of flaws that occur when arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value that can be stored in the target data type.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on the Audio File Library for audio processing tasks. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to cause system crashes, leading to service disruption and potential denial of service conditions across applications that depend on this library. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered remotely without requiring authentication or specialized privileges, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns. Systems utilizing this library for audio processing, streaming, or content management are all at risk, including media servers, audio editing applications, and any software that handles MSADPCM formatted audio files.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks targeting remote systems. Attackers can craft malicious audio files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the integer overflow condition and cause system crashes. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and arithmetic overflow protection in multimedia processing libraries, as these components often handle untrusted data from external sources. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise system availability and reliability in environments where continuous operation is critical.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6839 should focus on immediate library updates and implementation of robust input validation measures. The primary remediation involves upgrading to a newer version of the Audio File Library that contains patches addressing the integer overflow conditions in the MSADPCM module. Organizations should also implement defensive programming practices such as bounds checking, integer overflow detection, and proper error handling within applications that utilize this library. Additional mitigations include deploying network segmentation to limit exposure, implementing file type validation to prevent processing of untrusted audio files, and establishing monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of thorough code review and security testing for multimedia processing components, particularly those handling complex binary formats that require extensive parsing and validation logic.