CVE-2018-14052 in libwav
Summary
by MITRE
An issue has been found in libwav through 2017-04-20. It is a SEGV in the function apply_gain in wav_gain/wav_gain.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14052 represents a critical segmentation fault within the libwav library version 2017-04-20 and earlier. This issue manifests specifically within the apply_gain function located in the wav_gain/wav_gain.c source file, where improper handling of audio gain parameters leads to memory access violations that can crash applications utilizing this library. The libwav library serves as a fundamental component for processing wave audio files in various software applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that process audio data.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the apply_gain function, which fails to properly handle edge cases or malformed gain parameters during audio processing operations. When malicious or malformed audio files are processed through this function, the library crashes with a segmentation fault, potentially allowing attackers to execute denial of service attacks against systems that rely on libwav for audio processing. This vulnerability operates at the application level and can be exploited by crafting specially formatted audio files that trigger the memory access violation during gain adjustment operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability impacts any software systems that depend on libwav for audio file processing, including audio editing applications, media players, and multimedia frameworks. The segmentation fault can result in complete application crashes, potentially leading to system instability or service disruption for end users. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform denial of service attacks against audio processing services, making it particularly dangerous in server environments where audio file processing is a common operation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14052 include immediate upgrading to libwav version 2017-04-21 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the segmentation fault issue. Organizations should also implement input validation measures for audio files processed through libwav, including sanitizing gain parameters and implementing proper error handling routines. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual audio file processing patterns and maintaining updated security patches for all audio processing libraries can help prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-248, covering unspecified other vulnerabilities. The attack surface for this issue corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network disruption through application or system compromise. Organizations should consider implementing security monitoring for segmentation faults in audio processing applications and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures for handling denial of service attacks targeting multimedia processing components.