CVE-2018-14523 in Monstra
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in aubio 0.4.6. A buffer over-read can occur in new_aubio_pitchyinfft in pitch/pitchyinfft.c, as demonstrated by aubionotes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14523 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the aubio audio processing library version 0.4.6. This issue resides in the pitch/pitchyinfft.c source file where the new_aubio_pitchyinfft function fails to properly validate input parameters before processing audio data. The flaw manifests when the aubionotes utility attempts to analyze audio signals, specifically when handling certain audio buffer configurations that exceed expected boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which defines "Out-of-bounds Read" as a weakness where a program reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the pitch detection algorithm processes audio signals without adequate bounds checking on the input buffer sizes. The new_aubio_pitchyinfft function assumes certain buffer dimensions and processing requirements that may not hold true for all input conditions, particularly when dealing with malformed or unexpected audio data streams. When the algorithm attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, it reads adjacent memory regions that may contain sensitive data or program state information. This over-read behavior can expose internal memory contents, potentially revealing stack contents, heap data, or other program variables that should remain protected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in audio processing applications where the input data may come from untrusted sources, as attackers could craft malicious audio files to trigger this condition.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-14523 extends beyond simple data corruption or application crashes, as it presents a potential vector for information disclosure and system compromise. When exploited, the buffer over-read could allow attackers to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability affects any application that relies on aubio 0.4.6 for pitch detection functionality, including audio analysis tools, music applications, and scientific audio processing software. In the context of the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to information gathering and privilege escalation, as the over-read could provide attackers with insights into the target system's memory layout and internal state. The impact is particularly severe when considering that audio processing applications often handle sensitive data and may run with elevated privileges in certain environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the aubio library to version 0.4.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all applications that depend on the vulnerable library version and ensure complete remediation across the affected infrastructure. Additional protective measures include implementing proper input validation mechanisms within applications that utilize aubio, establishing memory safety checks, and employing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper bounds checking in audio signal processing algorithms, where mathematical operations and iterative processing can easily lead to buffer overflows if input parameters are not carefully validated. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous memory access patterns and unusual behavior in audio processing applications that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of audio processing systems to potentially malicious inputs.