Microsoft Windows XP WAV Media File infinite loop

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Microsoft Windows XP. This affects an unknown part of the component WAV Media File Handler. This manipulation causes infinite loop. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2004-1623. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is advised to substitute the affected component with an alternative.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Microsoft Windows XP (Operating System). Affected by this vulnerability is some unknown processing of the component WAV Media File Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a infinite loop vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-835. The product contains an iteration or loop with an exit condition that cannot be reached, i.e., an infinite loop. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

The WAV file property handler in Windows XP SP1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop in Explorer) via a WAV file with an invalid file header whose fmt chunk length is set to 0xFFFFFFFF.

The weakness was disclosed 10/22/2004 with HexView (Website). The advisory is shared at hexview.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2004-1623 since 02/20/2005. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1499 for this issue.

After even before and not, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is possible to download the exploit at hexview.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $5k-$25k.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at windowsupdate.microsoft.com. The problem might be mitigated by replacing the product with as an alternative. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be establishing an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (17864), Exploit-DB (24699), SecurityFocus (BID 11503†), OSVDB (11053†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1011880†). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

License

Support

  • end of life (old version)

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Infinite loop
CWE: CWE-835 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Alternative
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Timelineinfo

10/21/2004 🔍
10/22/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/22/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/22/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/22/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/22/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/22/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/23/2004 +1 days 🔍
10/28/2004 +4 days 🔍
02/20/2005 +115 days 🔍
07/31/2025 +7466 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: hexview.com
Researcher: http://www.hexview.com
Organization: HexView
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-1623 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-1623
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-937
X-Force: 17864 - Microsoft Windows XP Explorer WAV file denial of service, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 11503 - Microsoft Windows XP WAV File Handler Denial Of Service Vulnerability
OSVDB: 11053 - Microsoft Windows XP Explorer WAV Parsing DoS
SecurityTracker: 1011880 - Microsoft Windows XP Error in Explorer in Processing WAV Files Lets Remote Users Deny Service
Vulnerability Center: 5686 - Microsoft Windows XP Allows DoS, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 10/22/2004 12:14
Updated: 07/31/2025 10:09
Changes: 10/22/2004 12:14 (79), 06/08/2017 23:45 (5), 07/31/2025 10:09 (22)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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