CVE-2024-20739 in Audition
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2024
Audition versions 24.0.3, 23.6.2 and earlier are affected by a Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20739 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of the Audition audio editing software including versions 24.0.3 and 23.6.2 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the software's file processing mechanisms and demonstrates a classic memory corruption issue that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes malformed or specially crafted audio files, creating an opportunity for attackers to leverage this weakness for malicious purposes. The vulnerability's classification as heap-based indicates that the buffer overflow occurs within the heap memory segment, making it particularly dangerous as it can corrupt heap metadata and lead to unpredictable behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning that a malicious file must be opened by the victim for the attack to succeed. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the context of social engineering attacks where users might be tricked into opening seemingly legitimate audio files that contain malicious payloads. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of audio file structures, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the heap-based nature indicates more complex memory management issues. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would allow execution of arbitrary code within the application's context.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20739 is significant as it provides attackers with a potential path to full system compromise when users open malicious files. The vulnerability's ability to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user means that attackers could potentially install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. Audio editing software like Audition is commonly used in professional environments where users may handle sensitive business or personal data, amplifying the potential damage from exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions indicates a widespread exposure across the user base, making it particularly concerning for organizations that may have various versions of the software deployed. Security researchers have noted that heap-based buffer overflows are particularly challenging to detect and prevent due to their complex memory manipulation patterns, often requiring sophisticated exploitation techniques that can bypass modern security mitigations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by updating to the latest versions of Audition software where patches are available. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing strict file validation procedures and user education to prevent opening untrusted audio files from unknown sources. Security teams should monitor for suspicious file opening activities and consider deploying application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized software versions. Network-based detection measures should be implemented to identify potential exploitation attempts through anomalous file processing patterns. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, which means that security awareness training becomes crucial in preventing successful attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to make exploitation more difficult. Given the nature of the vulnerability, regular security assessments of audio processing applications should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption issues that may exist in other software components.