CVE-2017-8361 in libsndfile
Summary
by MITRE
The flac_buffer_copy function in flac.c in libsndfile 1.0.28 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted audio file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8361 resides within the libsndfile library version 1.0.28, specifically in the flac_buffer_copy function located in the flac.c source file. This flaw represents a critical buffer overflow condition that can be exploited by remote attackers through the manipulation of crafted audio files. The affected library serves as a comprehensive audio file processing framework widely utilized across various multimedia applications, operating systems, and development environments for handling numerous audio formats including FLAC. The vulnerability manifests when the flac_buffer_copy function fails to properly validate input data lengths during the processing of FLAC audio files, creating a scenario where maliciously constructed buffer contents can exceed allocated memory boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the FLAC decoding routine. When libsndfile processes a malformed FLAC file, the flac_buffer_copy function attempts to copy audio data from the input buffer to an internal buffer without sufficient validation of the source data size. This allows an attacker to craft audio files containing oversized metadata or corrupted buffer structures that cause the application to write beyond allocated memory regions. The flaw can be categorized under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and potentially CWE-122, stack-based buffer overflow, depending on the specific memory layout during execution. The vulnerability's exploitation pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it targets application-level processing routines that handle multimedia file inputs.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8361 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the target environment. Remote attackers can trigger application crashes through controlled buffer overflows, leading to service disruption and denial of service conditions that affect legitimate users. In environments where libsndfile is integrated into web applications, media processing servers, or embedded systems, this vulnerability can be leveraged to compromise system availability. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest potential for additional security consequences including information disclosure, privilege escalation, or code execution under certain conditions. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including media players, audio editing software, game engines, and multimedia frameworks that depend on libsndfile for audio processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8361 primarily focus on immediate software updates and input validation measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to libsndfile version 1.0.29 or later, which includes patched implementations of the flac_buffer_copy function with proper bounds checking and input validation. System administrators should prioritize patch management across all environments where libsndfile is deployed, particularly in server environments handling user-uploaded audio content. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation at application layers that utilize libsndfile, employing sandboxing techniques for audio file processing, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based restrictions on audio file uploads and conducting regular security assessments of multimedia processing pipelines to identify potential attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of audio codec implementations against malformed input data.