CVE-2018-14549 in libwav
Summary
by MITRE
An issue has been found in libwav through 2017-04-20. It is a SEGV in the function wav_write in libwav.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14549 represents a critical segmentation fault within the libwav library, specifically affecting versions released through April 20, 2017. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered by malformed input data during the wav_write function execution, which operates within the libwav.c source file. The libwav library serves as a foundational component for handling wave audio file format operations, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for applications that process audio data or integrate with multimedia frameworks. The segmentation fault occurs when the library attempts to write audio data to a wave file without proper validation of input parameters, creating a scenario where malicious or corrupted input can cause the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the wav_write function, which fails to properly handle edge cases or malformed data structures that would typically be encountered during normal audio file processing. The flaw operates as a classic buffer over-read or improper memory access condition, where the library attempts to write beyond allocated memory boundaries or access invalid memory locations. This behavior aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the library lacks proper bounds checking and input sanitization routines that would normally be implemented to prevent such memory access violations.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-14549 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be exploited to create denial of service conditions in systems that rely on libwav for audio processing. Attackers could craft malicious wave files or manipulate input data to trigger the segmentation fault, potentially causing service disruptions in multimedia applications, audio processing systems, or embedded devices that utilize this library. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where automated audio processing occurs, such as content management systems, digital audio workstations, or any application that accepts user-uploaded audio files. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service, and T1595.001, which involves reconnaissance through information discovery, as attackers could use this weakness to identify vulnerable systems and potentially escalate their attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected libwav versions, with security updates addressing the improper memory handling within the wav_write function. System administrators should prioritize updating all applications that depend on libwav to versions that contain proper input validation and memory bounds checking. Additionally, implementing input sanitization measures at the application level can provide defense in depth, ensuring that even if the underlying library contains vulnerabilities, the application layer can prevent malformed data from reaching the vulnerable code paths. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring for segmentation fault occurrences and establishing incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures that include static code analysis and dynamic vulnerability scanning to identify similar memory safety issues in other components of the software stack.