CVE-2018-10392 in libvorbis
Summary
by MITRE
mapping0_forward in mapping0.c in Xiph.Org libvorbis 1.3.6 does not validate the number of channels, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow or over-read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10392 resides within the Xiph.Org libvorbis library version 1.3.6, specifically in the mapping0_forward function located in mapping0.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects applications relying on the library for handling vorbis audio files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of channel parameters during the processing of audio data structures, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the library's behavior through specially crafted audio files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a heap-based buffer overflow or over-read condition that occurs when the mapping0_forward function fails to properly validate the number of channels specified in vorbis audio files. This validation gap allows attackers to provide malformed channel count values that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries or access memory regions beyond the intended data structure limits. The flaw operates at the intersection of improper input validation and memory management, where the function assumes valid channel counts without performing adequate bounds checking against the allocated heap memory regions. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-129 as "Improper Validation of Array Index" and falls within the broader category of memory safety issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially enable remote code execution or information disclosure depending on the specific implementation and memory layout of affected systems. When exploited, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause heap corruption through buffer overflows or read beyond allocated memory boundaries, which can result in application crashes, unexpected behavior, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution. The attack surface includes any application that processes vorbis audio files using the vulnerable libvorbis library, encompassing media players, streaming services, content management systems, and multimedia applications across various operating systems including linux windows and macos platforms. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the condition through network-based delivery of malicious audio files without requiring local system access or user interaction.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10392 focus primarily on updating to patched versions of the libvorbis library where the channel validation has been properly implemented. System administrators should prioritize patching affected applications and libraries to ensure that the vulnerable mapping0_forward function receives proper input validation for channel parameters. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation at application layers that consume vorbis audio data, using memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization, and employing runtime monitoring to detect anomalous memory access patterns. Organizations should also consider network-level filtering to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious vorbis files through firewalls or intrusion detection systems. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework falls under the T1203 category for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1059 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter" when considering potential exploitation paths that could lead to further system compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of the library, with particular attention to embedded systems, media servers, and applications handling user-uploaded audio content.