CVE-2019-25571 in MediaMonkey
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2026
MediaMonkey 4.1.23 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows local attackers to crash the application by opening a specially crafted MP3 file containing an excessively long URL string. Attackers can create a malicious MP3 file with a buffer containing 4000 bytes of data appended to a URL, which causes the application to crash when the file is opened through the File > Open URL dialog.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25571 represents a critical denial of service flaw within MediaMonkey version 4.1.23 that demonstrates a classic buffer overflow condition in the application's handling of media file metadata. This issue specifically manifests when the software processes MP3 files containing malformed URL strings that exceed normal parameter limits, creating a scenario where the application's internal buffer management fails to properly handle oversized input data. The vulnerability resides in the File > Open URL dialog functionality, which serves as the primary interface for loading media content from web sources, making it a high-value target for exploitation. The flaw operates through a straightforward yet effective mechanism where an attacker crafts a malicious MP3 file with a URL string exceeding 4000 bytes, a length that surpasses the application's expected buffer capacity and triggers an unhandled exception.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. When MediaMonkey attempts to parse the malformed MP3 file, the application's URL parsing routine fails to validate the length of the URL string contained within the file's metadata, particularly in the ID3 tag structure where URL information is commonly stored. This failure creates a scenario where the application's memory management system encounters a buffer overflow condition during the parsing process, leading to an application crash that terminates the MediaMonkey process and disrupts normal user operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the software's ability to handle external media sources, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently access content from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-25571 extends beyond simple application instability, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks within local network environments or when users are tricked into opening malicious files. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by distributing specially crafted MP3 files through various means including email attachments, file sharing networks, or malicious websites, where unsuspecting users might inadvertently open the files through the application's URL loading functionality. The vulnerability's local attack requirement means that it cannot be exploited remotely over a network, but it does represent a significant risk in environments where users have elevated privileges or where the application is used in automated processes. The crash condition affects not only the immediate user experience but also potentially leads to data loss if users are in the middle of organizing their media libraries or performing other critical operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-25571 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Users should immediately update to MediaMonkey version 4.1.24 or later, which contains patches specifically designed to address the buffer overflow condition in URL parsing routines. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies that prevent the automatic execution of potentially malicious files, particularly those containing media metadata that could trigger buffer overflow conditions. The implementation of input validation controls, including length restrictions on URL strings within media file metadata, represents the most effective long-term solution that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for input validation bypass. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious MP3 files containing oversized URL strings, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other media processing applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of robust input validation and memory management practices in multimedia applications that process external data sources.