CVE-2024-28886 in UTAU
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2024
OS command injection vulnerability exists in UTAU versions prior to v0.4.19. If a user of the product opens a crafted UTAU project file (.ust file), an arbitrary OS command may be executed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28886 represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within the UTAU digital audio workstation software. This issue affects all versions prior to v0.4.19 and stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms when processing project files. The vulnerability manifests when users open maliciously crafted .ust project files, which are the native file format used by UTAU for storing musical compositions and associated data. The flaw enables attackers to inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands on the victim's machine, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. UTAU's failure to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data within .ust files creates an environment where attacker-controlled commands can be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system shell. This occurs because the application directly incorporates user-provided content into system command invocations without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the application and its users, requiring no additional privileges or complex exploitation techniques beyond convincing a victim to open a malicious file.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-28886 extends far beyond simple command execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to install malware, establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or even escalate privileges to gain administrative control over affected systems. The attack vector is particularly insidious as it relies on social engineering to trick users into opening malicious project files, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network-based security measures. This vulnerability affects users who work with UTAU for music production, potentially exposing them to remote code execution capabilities that could compromise their entire development environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 0.4.19 or later, which incorporates proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Security administrators should implement strict file access controls and user education programs to prevent the opening of untrusted project files. Additionally, network-based security solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious file downloads and execution patterns related to UTAU applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in preventing command injection attacks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations using UTAU should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting file execution permissions to minimize potential impact. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other audio production software that may be susceptible to similar injection vulnerabilities.