CVE-2019-16092 in libmysofa
Summary
by MITRE
Symonics libmysofa 0.7 has a NULL pointer dereference in getHrtf in hrtf/reader.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16092 affects Symonics libmysofa version 0.7, a library used for handling spatial audio data through Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) files. This library is commonly integrated into audio processing applications that require 3D spatial sound rendering, particularly in gaming, virtual reality, and audio production software. The issue stems from improper input validation within the library's file parsing mechanism, specifically in the getHrtf function located in the hrtf/reader.c source file.
The technical flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the library processes malformed or specially crafted HRTF files. During normal operation, the getHrtf function attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or validated, leading to a program crash when the application tries to dereference a null pointer. This vulnerability represents a classic denial of service scenario where an attacker can trigger system instability by providing malicious input files to applications that utilize this library. The underlying cause aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be exploited to disrupt audio applications that depend on libmysofa for spatial sound processing. Attackers could potentially craft malicious HRTF files that, when loaded by vulnerable applications, would cause unexpected termination of the audio processing pipeline. This disruption could be particularly problematic in professional audio environments where system stability is critical, or in gaming applications where audio glitches could affect user experience or game functionality. The vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK framework as a denial of service technique, specifically targeting application stability through memory corruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-16092 should prioritize immediate patching of affected libmysofa versions, with organizations updating to version 0.8 or later where the NULL pointer dereference has been addressed. Additionally, input validation measures should be implemented at the application level to sanitize HRTF file inputs before processing, including checking file headers and structure integrity. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in audio file processing that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations utilizing this library should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for audio file handling to contain potential impacts of any remaining vulnerabilities. The fix typically involves adding proper NULL checks before pointer dereferences and implementing robust error handling that gracefully manages malformed input data rather than allowing program termination.