CVE-2024-44866 in Studio
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2025
A buffer overflow in the GuitarPro1::read function of MuseScore Studio v4.3.2 allows attackers to to execute arbitrary code or cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via opening a crafted GuitarPro file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-44866 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the MuseScore Studio v4.3.2 software ecosystem specifically within the GuitarPro1::read function implementation. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and memory management practices when processing GuitarPro file formats, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's parsing logic. The buffer overflow occurs during the file reading process where the application fails to properly bounds-check data structures before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers, leading to potential memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution or system disruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow attack pattern where crafted malicious data within a GuitarPro file triggers memory corruption in the GuitarPro1::read function. When the application attempts to parse and load the specially constructed file, the insufficient boundary checking allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running MuseScore Studio, or alternatively cause a denial of service condition that crashes the application and prevents legitimate file processing. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121 which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory to be overwritten beyond allocated boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who may inadvertently open maliciously crafted GuitarPro files either through social engineering attacks, compromised software distribution channels, or targeted attacks against users of the MuseScore Studio platform. The attack surface expands when considering that GuitarPro files are commonly shared among musicians and music educators, making this a potential vector for widespread exploitation. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially affect collaborative music projects where file sharing is common. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability could be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-44866 should prioritize immediate software updates from MuseScore to address the buffer overflow in the GuitarPro1::read function implementation. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures that include sandboxed file processing environments for any GuitarPro files received from untrusted sources. Network security controls such as email filtering and web proxy rules can help prevent users from inadvertently downloading malicious files. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized file processing utilities and enforce secure coding practices in file parsing components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding principles as outlined in the software security framework, particularly in handling untrusted input data and implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms. Additionally, incident response procedures should include specific protocols for handling potential exploitation attempts involving file format parsing vulnerabilities, as this aligns with the attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique for exploitation of file format vulnerabilities.