CVE-2019-20063 in libmysofa
Summary
by MITRE
hdf/dataobject.c in libmysofa before 0.8 has an uninitialized use of memory, as demonstrated by mysofa2json.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20063 resides within the libmysofa library version 0.8 and earlier, specifically in the hdf/dataobject.c file where an uninitialized memory usage flaw exists. This issue manifests when the mysofa2json utility processes certain input data files, creating a potential security risk through improper memory handling. The flaw represents a classic case of uninitialized memory access that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-457 category of "Use of Uninitialized Variable" and can be categorized as a memory safety issue within the broader ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Memory Injection" or "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation". The uninitialized memory access occurs when the software attempts to read from a memory location that has not been properly initialized with a known value, potentially exposing sensitive data or allowing for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it affects the integrity of the data processing pipeline within audio file conversion utilities. When mysofa2json processes specific hdf data objects, the uninitialized memory values can contain remnants of previous operations or system data, leading to incorrect interpretation of audio metadata or potentially enabling attackers to craft malicious input files that exploit this uninitialized access pattern. This creates a risk for systems that process untrusted audio files through the libmysofa library, particularly in environments where audio processing is automated or where user-supplied files are processed without proper validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20063 should focus on upgrading to libmysofa version 0.8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly initialize memory variables before use. Additionally, system administrators should implement input validation measures for any applications that utilize this library, particularly when processing external or untrusted audio files. The fix typically involves ensuring that all memory allocations within the hdf/dataobject.c file are properly initialized before any data is read from or written to these memory locations, thereby preventing the exposure of uninitialized memory contents that could be leveraged by attackers. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to further reduce the exploitability of similar uninitialized memory issues.