CVE-2018-9348 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
In SMF_ParseMetaEvent of eas_smf.c, there is a possible integer overflow. This could lead to remote denial of service due to resource exhaustion with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9348 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the SMF_ParseMetaEvent function located in the eas_smf.c source file. This issue manifests in software systems that process SMF (Sound Music Format) files, which are commonly used for storing musical data and metadata. The integer overflow occurs during the parsing of meta events within SMF files, where the system fails to properly validate or handle large integer values that exceed the bounds of the intended data type. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to unexpected behavior in software systems. The flaw exists in the memory management and data validation processes that occur when parsing structured audio metadata, making it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted SMF files are processed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable resource exhaustion attacks that can cripple systems processing SMF files. When exploited, the integer overflow causes the system to allocate excessive memory or create malformed data structures that consume disproportionate system resources. Attackers can craft specially malformed SMF files that trigger this overflow condition, causing the parsing routine to allocate memory in unexpected ways that can lead to system instability, application crashes, or complete system hang conditions. This vulnerability requires no elevated privileges for exploitation since it operates at the parsing level where normal user privileges suffice to trigger the condition. The requirement for user interaction means that victims must actually open or process the malicious SMF file, making this a targeted attack vector rather than a fully automated threat. However, the low barrier to exploitation makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently process audio files from untrusted sources.
The security implications of CVE-2018-9348 align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities for denial of service attacks. The vulnerability operates through a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern where the integer overflow causes the system to consume memory or processing resources at an abnormal rate. This type of attack can be particularly effective in server environments or applications that process multiple SMF files simultaneously, as the overflow can compound across multiple concurrent operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation and memory allocation practices within the SMF parsing library, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious inputs to disrupt normal program execution flow. Organizations using affected software should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization, file format validation, and limiting the scope of SMF file processing to prevent exploitation. The issue also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices, particularly regarding integer handling and memory management in multimedia processing libraries.