CVE-2019-5618 in A-PDF WAV to MP3
Summary
by MITRE
A-PDF WAV to MP3 version 1.0.0 suffers from an instance of CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5618 affects A-PDF WAV to MP3 version 1.0.0 and represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition classified under CWE-121. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program writes more data to a fixed-length buffer located on the stack than the buffer can accommodate, leading to overwrites of adjacent memory locations. The flaw manifests in the audio file conversion process where the application fails to properly validate input data lengths before processing WAV format files and converting them to MP3 format.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the software's audio processing routines. When the application encounters a malformed or specially crafted WAV file, it attempts to copy audio data into a stack-allocated buffer without verifying that the source data length matches the buffer capacity. This oversight allows an attacker to provide input data that exceeds the predetermined buffer size, causing the excess data to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations including return addresses, function parameters, and local variables. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through user interaction with the application's file processing functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it creates potential for arbitrary code execution within the context of the running process. An attacker who successfully exploits this buffer overflow could manipulate the program's execution flow by overwriting the return address on the stack, potentially redirecting control to malicious code injected into the application's memory space. This type of exploitation aligns with techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under ATT&CK matrix as a code injection technique, specifically targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects users who process audio files through the A-PDF WAV to MP3 converter, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted audio content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates from the vendor to address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking. System administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted software and ensure that only verified, updated versions of the application are deployed. Additionally, operating system security features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention should be enabled to provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of input validation practices aligned with secure coding guidelines and emphasizes the need for regular security assessments of third-party software components. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.