CVE-2018-14948 in dilawar
Summary
by MITRE
An issue has been found in dilawar sound through 2017-11-27. The end of openWavFile in wav-file.cc has Mismatched Memory Management Routines (operator new [] versus operator delete).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14948 resides within the dilawar sound library, specifically affecting versions through November 27, 2017. This issue manifests in the wav-file.cc source file where a critical memory management inconsistency occurs at the end of the openWavFile function. The flaw represents a classic mismatched memory management routines problem that can lead to undefined behavior and potential system instability. The vulnerability stems from the improper use of memory allocation and deallocation functions, where operator new[] is employed for memory allocation while operator delete is used for deallocation, creating a fundamental incompatibility in the memory management process.
This memory management inconsistency falls under the CWE-415 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses double free conditions and mismatched allocation/deallocation routines. The issue directly impacts the software's ability to properly handle memory resources during wav file processing operations, potentially allowing attackers to exploit the memory corruption for malicious purposes. The mismatch occurs when the application attempts to free memory that was allocated using a different allocation mechanism, creating a scenario where the memory management system becomes confused about the proper deallocation method.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions within applications that utilize the dilawar sound library. When processing wav files through the affected library, the improper memory management can lead to heap corruption, which may result in application crashes or more severe security implications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during routine file processing operations, making it accessible through normal user interactions with wav file handling capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14948 require immediate patching of the dilawar sound library to ensure consistent memory management practices throughout the codebase. Developers should implement proper memory management protocols where matching allocation and deallocation routines are used consistently, such as ensuring that new[] is paired with delete[] and new with delete. Additionally, code review processes should include thorough examination of memory management patterns to prevent similar issues from occurring in other parts of the application. The fix should involve updating the wav-file.cc implementation to use consistent memory management routines throughout the openWavFile function and related memory handling operations. Organizations utilizing this library should also consider implementing memory debugging tools and static analysis techniques to identify potential memory management issues in their codebases, following ATT&CK technique T1068 which focuses on exploiting local system permissions and memory corruption vulnerabilities.