CVE-2018-10771 in abcm2ps
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the get_key function in parse.c in abcm2ps through 8.13.20 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10771 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the abcm2ps software suite, specifically within the get_key function located in the parse.c source file. This issue affects versions through 8.13.20 and demonstrates a classic memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited remotely by attackers to disrupt system operations. The abcm2ps tool serves as a converter for musical notation files, transforming abc notation into various musical formats including postscript and midi output, making it a widely used component in music composition and publishing workflows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the get_key function where input data is processed without adequate validation of buffer limits. When the application processes malformed or specially crafted input data, the function fails to properly constrain the amount of data written to a stack-allocated buffer, creating an exploitable condition where adjacent memory locations can be overwritten. This flaw operates at the core of the parsing functionality that handles musical notation elements, particularly when processing key signatures or other musical attributes that require parsing and interpretation. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that the vulnerability can be triggered through a single malformed input parameter, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal exploitation effort.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment and system configuration. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause application crashes that result in service disruption, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing the musical notation conversion capabilities. However, the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that under certain conditions, this buffer overflow could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges, particularly if the affected system operates in an environment where memory corruption vulnerabilities can be weaponized. The vulnerability affects systems that process user-provided abc notation files, making it relevant to web applications, automated music processing systems, and any environment where external input is parsed without proper sanitization.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10771 should prioritize immediate patching of affected abcm2ps installations to version 8.13.21 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to address the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement input validation measures that filter or sanitize all user-provided abc notation data before processing, particularly focusing on key signature elements that are most likely to trigger the vulnerable code path. Network-level protections including firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can be configured to monitor for patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though this approach is less reliable given the nature of stack-based overflows. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the broader weakness class of buffer overflows that occur when data is written beyond the bounds of stack-allocated buffers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, as the buffer overflow could potentially be leveraged to execute malicious code within the application context, particularly in environments where the software runs with elevated privileges or processes sensitive data. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing or containerization for abcm2ps processes to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.