CVE-2018-14044 in Soundtouch
Summary
by MITRE
The RateTransposer::setChannels function in RateTransposer.cpp in libSoundTouch.a in Olli Parviainen SoundTouch 2.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and application exit), as demonstrated by SoundStretch.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14044 resides within the SoundTouch audio processing library, specifically in the RateTransposer::setChannels function located in RateTransposer.cpp. This flaw affects version 2.0 of the libSoundTouch.a library and represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely through malformed input parameters. The issue manifests when the application processes audio data with invalid channel configurations, leading to assertion failures that cause the target application to terminate unexpectedly. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the widely-used SoundStretch audio processing tool, which relies on the SoundTouch library for its core functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the RateTransposer::setChannels function. When the function receives invalid channel count parameters, it fails to properly validate the input before proceeding with operations that assume valid channel configurations. This lack of proper parameter checking leads to assertion failures that are designed to catch programming errors but are being triggered by malicious input rather than actual code defects. The assertion failure occurs during the channel configuration process, where the system attempts to validate channel counts against internal assumptions, resulting in an immediate application crash. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-617: Reachable Assertion vulnerability, where an assertion that should only trigger during abnormal program execution is being reached through legitimate input manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt audio processing services and applications that depend on the SoundTouch library. When exploited, the vulnerability causes the target application to exit abruptly, potentially leading to service interruptions for legitimate users who rely on audio processing capabilities. This denial of service scenario is particularly damaging in environments where audio processing applications are critical components of larger systems, such as media servers, audio streaming platforms, or professional audio editing software. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication, as attackers only need to provide malformed channel parameters to trigger the assertion failure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in unpatched systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14044 should focus on immediate patching of the SoundTouch library to version 2.1 or later, where the input validation has been corrected to prevent assertion failures. Organizations should also implement input sanitization measures at the application level to validate channel parameters before passing them to the SoundTouch library functions. Network-level protections can include filtering of audio data streams to prevent malformed channel configurations from reaching vulnerable applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, where adversaries exploit software flaws to cause system interruptions. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect application crashes or unexpected terminations related to audio processing functions, as these may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other potential flaws in audio processing libraries that may present similar attack surfaces.