CVE-2017-9258 in Soundtouch
Summary
by MITRE
The TDStretch::processSamples function in source/SoundTouch/TDStretch.cpp in SoundTouch 1.9.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and CPU consumption) via a crafted wav file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9258 resides within the SoundTouch audio processing library version 1.9.2, specifically in the TDStretch::processSamples function located in source/SoundTouch/TDStretch.cpp. This flaw represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack by manipulating audio files. The vulnerability manifests when the library processes a specially crafted wav file that triggers an infinite loop within the audio processing algorithm, resulting in excessive cpu consumption and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and boundary checking within the TDStretch::processSamples function. When processing malformed audio data, the function fails to properly handle edge cases in the audio sample processing logic, causing the execution flow to enter an infinite loop. This occurs because the algorithm does not sufficiently validate the parameters of the audio samples or maintain proper loop termination conditions during the time-stretching process that SoundTouch performs to modify audio tempo without changing pitch. The flaw operates at the core of audio signal processing where temporal manipulation algorithms can become trapped in recursive or iterative patterns when encountering unexpected data structures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to systems that utilize SoundTouch for audio processing, particularly those exposed to untrusted audio content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious wav files that, when processed by applications using SoundTouch 1.9.2, will cause the target system to consume excessive cpu resources until the system becomes unresponsive or crashes. This affects a wide range of applications including media players, audio editing software, streaming services, and any system that incorporates the SoundTouch library for audio manipulation. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enabling resource exhaustion attacks that can be leveraged in broader network compromise scenarios.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which addresses the issue of infinite loops in software implementations, and represents a classic example of how audio processing algorithms can become vulnerable to malformed input. From an attack framework perspective, this flaw maps to the attack technique of resource exhaustion within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the category of denial of service attacks. Organizations using SoundTouch 1.9.2 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, file format sanitization, and application-level resource limits to prevent exploitation. The recommended solution involves upgrading to SoundTouch version 1.9.3 or later, which contains proper input validation and loop termination logic to prevent the infinite loop condition. Additionally, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious audio file processing patterns and implementing proper application sandboxing can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against this type of vulnerability exploitation.