CVE-2018-6767 in Wavpack
Summary
by MITRE
A stack-based buffer over-read in the ParseRiffHeaderConfig function of cli/riff.c file of WavPack 5.1.0 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial-of-service attack or possibly have unspecified other impact via a maliciously crafted RF64 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6767 represents a critical stack-based buffer over-read flaw within the WavPack audio processing library version 5.1.0. This issue resides in the ParseRiffHeaderConfig function located within the cli/riff.c source file, exposing systems that process audio files to potential security risks. The flaw manifests when the library encounters malformed RF64 audio files, which are a variant of the RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) used for storing audio data. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-126, which specifically addresses buffer over-read conditions where an application reads data past the boundaries of a buffer, potentially leading to information disclosure or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted RF64 file is processed by software utilizing the affected WavPack library. During the parsing of the RIFF header configuration, the ParseRiffHeaderConfig function fails to properly validate the bounds of memory allocations, leading to a situation where the application attempts to read beyond the allocated stack buffer space. This over-read condition can result in the application accessing memory locations that contain sensitive data or cause the program to crash, thereby enabling a denial-of-service attack. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the over-read may potentially expose confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for security-sensitive applications.
From an operational standpoint, systems running applications that utilize WavPack 5.1.0 for audio file processing become vulnerable to this attack vector. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where audio files are processed automatically. This vulnerability affects various applications including media players, audio editing software, and content management systems that handle RF64 audio files. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that depending on the execution context and memory layout, attackers might be able to leverage this over-read to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges, though this would require additional exploitation techniques.
Security mitigations for CVE-2018-6767 primarily involve upgrading to WavPack version 5.2.0 or later, where the buffer over-read vulnerability has been addressed through proper bounds checking in the ParseRiffHeaderConfig function. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected versions of the library and prioritize patching efforts accordingly. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures for audio file processing can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Network administrators should consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability through malformed audio file submissions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in input validation to cause system instability or information disclosure, highlighting the importance of robust validation mechanisms in multimedia processing libraries.