CVE-2018-11710 in libopenmpt
Summary
by MITRE
soundlib/pattern.h in libopenmpt before 0.3.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted AMS file because of an invalid write near address 0 in an out-of-memory situation.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11710 resides within the soundlib/pattern.h component of libopenmpt version 0.3.8 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that affects multimedia applications handling module file formats. This issue manifests when processing specially crafted AMS (Amarok Module Sound) files, which are used in music composition and playback applications. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during out-of-memory conditions, creating a scenario where an attacker can manipulate application behavior through malicious file inputs.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, representing an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when the application attempts to write data to memory locations that are not properly allocated or accessible. In this specific case, the flaw manifests as an invalid write near address 0, which indicates a severe memory corruption issue where the application attempts to write to a null pointer or memory location that has been deallocated. The vulnerability specifically occurs during the processing of AMS files when the library encounters memory allocation failures, leading to improper handling of the error state and subsequent memory corruption.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to applications that utilize libopenmpt for audio file processing, including music players, digital audio workstations, and multimedia applications that support module file formats. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially allow for more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or complete system compromise. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious AMS files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the memory corruption condition and cause application crashes or unpredictable behavior.
The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution tactic, where attackers leverage application flaws to execute malicious code through file processing. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be effectively deployed through social engineering or automated scanning of vulnerable applications. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability affects not only end-user applications but also server-side applications that process user-uploaded audio files, creating potential remote code execution risks in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11710 primarily involve upgrading to libopenmpt version 0.3.9 or later, which includes proper memory handling and bounds checking to prevent the invalid write conditions. Organizations should also implement input validation controls that sanitize all module file formats before processing, employ memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file processing patterns. Additionally, application developers should incorporate proper error handling routines that gracefully manage memory allocation failures and implement defensive programming practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom audio processing code.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in multimedia libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases, particularly during error conditions such as memory exhaustion. This flaw underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and implementing automated testing frameworks that can detect memory corruption issues before deployment in production environments. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated multimedia libraries that may contain similar memory management flaws, particularly in applications that handle user-provided media content.