CVE-2017-9129 in Freeware Advanced Audio Coder
Summary
by MITRE
The wav_open_read function in frontend/input.c in Freeware Advanced Audio Coder (FAAC) 1.28 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (large loop) via a crafted wav file.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9129 resides within the Freeware Advanced Audio Coder (FAAC) version 1.28, specifically in the wav_open_read function located in the frontend/input.c file. This flaw represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely through the careful crafting of wav files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and lack of proper loop boundary checking within the audio file parsing logic, creating an exploitable condition where maliciously formatted audio files can trigger excessive computational loops.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the wav_open_read function failing to properly validate the structure and parameters of wav files before processing them. When a crafted wav file is processed, the function enters into an extended loop that consumes excessive system resources without proper termination conditions. This behavior aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses the issue of loops with insufficient termination conditions leading to infinite loops or excessive iterations. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input sanitization and boundary validation within audio file processing code, where the system fails to properly validate the integrity and expected parameters of the input data before entering computationally intensive operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize FAAC for audio processing, particularly in environments where untrusted audio files are processed automatically. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by simply providing a specially crafted wav file that triggers the problematic loop behavior, causing the affected system to consume excessive CPU cycles and potentially leading to system resource exhaustion. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability can be leveraged in distributed denial of service attacks where multiple targets are simultaneously overwhelmed with resource-consuming loop iterations. Systems running FAAC in automated processing environments, such as media servers, content management systems, or audio processing pipelines, become particularly vulnerable to this type of attack.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to resource exhaustion and denial of service operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness as part of a broader attack chain where they first gain access to systems and then deploy this specific payload to consume system resources and maintain persistent access through resource exhaustion attacks. Organizations implementing FAAC in their audio processing infrastructure should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment and security posture evaluation. The recommended mitigation strategies include applying the vendor-provided patch that addresses the loop boundary validation issue, implementing input validation controls that limit the size and complexity of audio files processed, and deploying monitoring solutions that can detect unusual CPU consumption patterns indicating potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of systems running FAAC to untrusted inputs, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other audio processing components within the infrastructure.