CVE-2018-6611 in OpenMPT
Summary
by MITRE
soundlib/Load_stp.cpp in OpenMPT through 1.27.04.00, and libopenmpt before 0.3.6, has an out-of-bounds read via a malformed STP file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6611 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the OpenMPT audio playback library, specifically affecting the soundlib/Load_stp.cpp component. This issue impacts both OpenMPT versions up to 1.27.04.00 and libopenmpt versions prior to 0.3.6, creating a significant security risk for systems that process or handle STP (Scream Tracker Pro) module files. The flaw occurs when the library attempts to parse malformed STP files, which can be exploited by malicious actors to trigger memory access violations and potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate input validation within the STP file parsing routine. When OpenMPT encounters a malformed STP file, the Load_stp.cpp module fails to properly bounds-check array accesses during the parsing process, leading to memory reads beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds read condition can result in information disclosure, application crashes, or in more severe scenarios, arbitrary code execution depending on memory layout and exploitation circumstances. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which is classified as a common weakness in software security practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to multimedia applications and audio processing systems that rely on OpenMPT for module file handling. Attackers can craft malicious STP files that, when loaded by vulnerable applications, will trigger the out-of-bounds read condition. This creates potential for denial of service attacks where legitimate applications crash or become unresponsive, as well as more sophisticated exploitation scenarios where attackers might leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious code. The impact extends beyond simple audio applications to any software that integrates libopenmpt or OpenMPT for audio module playback capabilities.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-6611 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution and T1499.004 for network denial of service. Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of OpenMPT and libopenmpt, implementing strict input validation for STP file processing, and deploying network segmentation to limit exposure. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially vulnerable software components and establish robust monitoring for unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in multimedia libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of audio processing components against malformed input files.