CVE-2026-51274 in ESP32-audioI2S
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2026
In schreibfaul1 ESP32-audioI2S 3.4.5, a heap-based buffer overflow in the ID3v2 SYLT synchronized lyrics parser in audiolib allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash), information disclosure, or potential arbitrary code execution via a crafted MP3 file. The vulnerability occurs due to missing bounds validation on attacker-controlled frame size and improper memory access during lyric parsing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2026
The vulnerability identified in schreibfaul1 ESP32-audioI2S version 3.4.5 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the ID3v2 SYLT synchronized lyrics parser component of the audiolib library. This flaw exists specifically within the handling of MP3 files containing crafted ID3v2 metadata, making it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted audio content is processed. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly check bounds on attacker-controlled frame size parameters during the parsing of synchronized lyrics data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the parser encounters a malformed ID3v2 SYLT frame within an MP3 file. Without proper bounds checking on the frame size field, the application allocates memory based on attacker-controlled values that can exceed the intended buffer limits. During subsequent processing of the synchronized lyrics data, improper memory access patterns occur as the parser attempts to read beyond allocated heap space, leading to memory corruption that manifests as application crashes or potentially exploitable conditions. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in heap memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential information disclosure and arbitrary code execution capabilities. When exploited successfully, the buffer overflow can cause application crashes that result in system instability, while the memory corruption may expose sensitive data from adjacent memory regions to attackers. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can trigger this vulnerability simply by providing a maliciously crafted MP3 file, eliminating the need for local system access or physical presence. In embedded systems contexts where ESP32 devices process audio streams from untrusted sources, this vulnerability could enable complete system compromise through privilege escalation or code injection attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the ID3v2 parser component. Developers must ensure that all frame size parameters are validated against expected ranges before any memory allocation occurs, with strict limits imposed on maximum allowable frame sizes. Memory safety practices including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap integrity checks should be implemented to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, input sanitization routines should be deployed to normalize and validate all ID3v2 metadata before processing, particularly focusing on the SYLT frame parsing logic. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it represents a classic software exploitation vector that can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to system resources through memory corruption attacks.