CVE-2017-9130 in Freeware Advanced Audio Coder
Summary
by MITRE
The faacEncOpen function in libfaac/frame.c in Freeware Advanced Audio Coder (FAAC) 1.28 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid memory read and application crash) via a crafted wav file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9130 resides within the Freeware Advanced Audio Coder library version 1.28, specifically in the faacEncOpen function located in libfaac/frame.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects applications relying on FAAC for audio encoding operations, particularly those processing external audio files. The vulnerability manifests when the library encounters malformed input data, specifically crafted wav files designed to exploit the encoding process. The flaw enables remote attackers to trigger invalid memory read operations that ultimately result in application crashes and complete denial of service conditions. This vulnerability directly impacts the robustness and reliability of audio processing systems that depend on FAAC for encoding audio content, making it particularly concerning for streaming services, audio editing applications, and multimedia platforms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the faacEncOpen function. When processing wav files, the function fails to properly validate the structure and content of the input file before attempting to parse and encode the audio data. This lack of proper boundary checking and data sanitization allows attackers to construct malicious wav files that contain malformed headers or unexpected data sequences. The function attempts to read memory locations that are either uninitialized, corrupted, or outside the expected bounds of the allocated buffer space, leading to segmentation faults and application termination. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-248, which covers unspecified other flaws in software. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the code assumes valid input without proper validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious input to disrupt normal program execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9130 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially compromise entire audio processing workflows and services. In production environments, this vulnerability could allow attackers to systematically disrupt audio encoding services, making it particularly dangerous for content delivery networks, streaming platforms, and multimedia applications that process user-uploaded audio files. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw without requiring local access to the system, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged in broader attack chains where initial compromise leads to further exploitation of related systems, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers legitimate program execution through malicious file delivery. Organizations using FAAC libraries in their audio processing pipelines face significant operational risks including service downtime, user experience degradation, and potential data loss during crash conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9130 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FAAC library versions, with organizations upgrading to patched releases that implement proper input validation and error handling mechanisms. The recommended approach includes implementing comprehensive input sanitization routines that validate wav file headers and structure before processing, along with robust exception handling that prevents invalid memory access conditions. System administrators should also consider implementing input filtering mechanisms at network boundaries to prevent malicious wav files from reaching vulnerable systems. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using affected FAAC versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix should incorporate defensive programming practices such as bounds checking, memory allocation validation, and proper error recovery mechanisms. Additionally, security teams should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors, while maintaining detailed logging of audio processing activities to enable forensic analysis in case of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the audio processing stack.