CVE-2019-7573 in Simple DirectMedia Layer
Summary
by MITRE
SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer) through 1.2.15 and 2.x through 2.0.9 has a heap-based buffer over-read in InitMS_ADPCM in audio/SDL_wave.c (inside the wNumCoef loop).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-7573 represents a critical heap-based buffer over-read flaw within the Simple DirectMedia Layer library version 1.2.15 and 2.x through 2.0.9. This issue specifically manifests in the InitMS_ADPCM function located within the audio/SDL_wave.c file, where improper bounds checking occurs during the processing of Microsoft ADPCM audio formats. The flaw exists within the wNumCoef loop structure, where the application reads beyond the allocated heap memory boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data or enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of the coefficient count parameter within the Microsoft ADPCM decoding routine, allowing attackers to craft malicious audio files that trigger the buffer over-read condition.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the SDL library's handling of audio file headers, particularly when processing wave files containing Microsoft ADPCM compressed audio data. During the initialization phase of ADPCM decoding, the library reads the wNumCoef field from the wave file header without sufficient validation of its value against the allocated buffer size. This allows an attacker to specify an excessively large coefficient count that exceeds the memory boundaries allocated for the coefficient array, resulting in the over-read of adjacent heap memory regions. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and input validation, where the library fails to properly enforce bounds checking on user-supplied data structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-7573 extends beyond simple data corruption, presenting significant security risks to applications that utilize SDL for audio processing. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to information disclosure through the over-read of heap contents, potentially exposing sensitive memory data including cryptographic keys, session tokens, or application state information. Additionally, the over-read condition may enable attackers to manipulate program execution flow or cause application crashes, leading to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including games, multimedia players, and embedded systems that rely on SDL for audio functionality, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such applications process untrusted audio content from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-7573 should prioritize immediate patching of affected SDL versions to the latest stable releases that contain the necessary bounds checking fixes. Organizations should implement input validation measures to sanitize audio file headers before processing, particularly focusing on validating the wNumCoef field against reasonable limits. Security-conscious developers should employ defensive programming practices including bounds checking, memory sanitization, and input validation routines to prevent similar issues in custom audio processing code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through legitimate user programs, as exploitation typically occurs through the normal execution path of audio processing applications. System administrators should monitor for applications using vulnerable SDL versions and ensure comprehensive testing of audio processing pipelines to identify potential exposure to this heap-based buffer over-read vulnerability.