CVE-2017-7697 in libsamplerate
Summary
by MITRE
In libsamplerate before 1.0.9, a buffer over-read occurs in the calc_output_single function in src_sinc.c via a crafted audio file.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7697 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the libsamplerate library version 1.0.8 and earlier. This issue specifically affects the calc_output_single function located in the src_sinc.c source file, which is part of the Secret Rabbit Code library designed for audio sample rate conversion. The flaw manifests when processing specially crafted audio files that exploit improper bounds checking during the resampling process, potentially leading to unauthorized memory access patterns.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where a program attempts to access memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The technical implementation involves the calc_output_single function failing to properly validate input parameters from malformed audio files, particularly those containing crafted metadata or sample data that triggers unexpected memory traversal. Attackers can leverage this flaw by constructing audio files with maliciously structured headers or sample sequences that cause the library to read beyond the intended buffer limits, potentially exposing sensitive memory contents or causing application crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7697 extends significantly across various software ecosystems that depend on libsamplerate for audio processing capabilities. Applications including digital audio workstations, media players, audio editing software, and multimedia frameworks that utilize this library for sample rate conversion are at risk of experiencing denial of service conditions or potential information disclosure. The vulnerability can be exploited through common attack vectors such as malicious file uploads, streaming media playback, or automated processing of user-supplied audio content, making it particularly dangerous in web applications and content management systems. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling adversaries to gain access to sensitive data through memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to libsamplerate version 1.0.9 or later, which contains the necessary bounds checking fixes. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications and services utilizing the vulnerable library, implementing network segmentation and input validation controls to minimize exposure. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous file processing behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper buffer size validation and boundary checking within the calc_output_single function, ensuring that all input data is properly validated before memory operations are performed. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and sandboxing techniques to further reduce the attack surface when processing untrusted audio content, particularly in environments where the vulnerable library is used for automated media processing tasks.