CVE-2022-48236 in SC9863A
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2023
In MP3 encoder, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local denial of service with System execution privileges needed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-48236 resides within MP3 encoder software components where a critical out-of-bounds read condition exists due to insufficient input validation. This flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in memory safety mechanisms that can be exploited to disrupt system operations. The missing bounds check specifically affects how the encoder processes audio data during the encoding process, creating opportunities for malicious input to trigger memory access violations. Such vulnerabilities fall under the broader category of memory corruption issues that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and are commonly associated with software reliability failures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the MP3 encoder fails to validate the size or boundaries of incoming audio data streams before processing them. This absence of proper input sanitization allows an attacker to craft specially formatted audio files that, when processed by the vulnerable encoder, cause the application to attempt reading memory locations outside the intended data buffer. The out-of-bounds read typically occurs during the parsing or transformation of audio samples into compressed MP3 format, where the encoder's internal algorithms do not adequately verify array indices or buffer limits. This type of flaw is classified as a CWE-129 vulnerability under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which specifically addresses issues related to insufficient boundary checking in input validation processes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk for systems that rely on MP3 encoding capabilities, particularly those in multimedia processing environments or applications handling user-uploaded content. The local denial of service condition means that an attacker with system execution privileges can intentionally trigger the out-of-bounds read to cause the encoder application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the system incapable of performing its intended audio encoding functions. The requirement for system execution privileges indicates that exploitation cannot occur through network-based attacks alone but requires either local access or a prior compromise of system credentials. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and execution categories, where adversaries can leverage such flaws to maintain persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-48236 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from software vendors who have addressed the missing bounds check in their encoder implementations. Organizations should also implement input validation controls at multiple layers of their systems, including network-level filtering of audio file types and runtime monitoring of encoder processes for anomalous behavior patterns. Additional protective measures include restricting user privileges when processing audio content, implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization, and conducting regular security assessments of multimedia processing pipelines. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in software development, particularly for applications handling multimedia data where malformed inputs can lead to system instability and potential security breaches.