CVE-2023-49356 in MP3Gain
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2023
A stack buffer overflow vulnerability in MP3Gain v1.6.2 allows an attacker to cause a denial of service via the WriteMP3GainAPETag function at apetag.c:592.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2026
The stack buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49356 resides within MP3Gain version 1.6.2, specifically within the WriteMP3GainAPETag function located in the apetag.c source file at line 592. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that arises from improper bounds checking during the processing of APE tag data within MP3 audio files. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to write data to a stack-based buffer without adequate validation of input lengths, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt normal application operation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stack-based buffer overflow pattern where a fixed-size buffer on the stack receives data that exceeds its allocated capacity. When MP3Gain processes audio files containing specially crafted APE tags, the WriteMP3GainAPETag function fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into a stack buffer. This condition falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities, and can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for network denial of service attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's ability to handle malformed input data, creating a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the program's execution flow through stack corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors depending on the execution environment and system configuration. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause the MP3Gain application to crash or behave unpredictably, rendering the tool unusable for legitimate audio processing tasks. This disruption affects users who rely on MP3Gain for audio level adjustment and normalization, particularly in professional or automated environments where the tool's stability is critical. The vulnerability is especially concerning in automated processing pipelines where MP3Gain might be invoked programmatically, as a single malformed file could cause cascading failures across dependent systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-49356 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MP3Gain installations to the latest available version that contains the necessary code fixes. System administrators should implement input validation measures that prevent processing of malformed APE tags, particularly in environments where the application handles untrusted audio files from external sources. Additionally, deployment of network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the WriteMP3GainAPETag function to ensure that data copied to stack buffers does not exceed their allocated size, addressing the underlying CWE-121 condition through defensive programming practices. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing or containerization for MP3Gain usage to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.