CVE-2021-44269 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

An out of bounds read vulnerability was discovered in Wavpack 5.4.0 that affects processing *.WAV files, potentially leading to a heap buffer overflow.

Understanding CVE-2021-44269

What is CVE-2021-44269?

The vulnerability in Wavpack 5.4.0 allows for an out of bounds read during the processing of *.WAV files, due to a tainted variable, resulting in reading beyond the bounds of the heap.

The Impact of CVE-2021-44269

This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to trigger a heap buffer overflow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-44269

Vulnerability Description

The issue triggers in function WavpackPackSamples in file src/pack_utils.c, where a tainted variable 'cnt' is too large, causing a pointer 'sptr' to read beyond the heap bound.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Wavpack 5.4.0
Version: Not specified

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can craft a malicious *.WAV file to exploit the vulnerability and trigger the out of bounds read, potentially leading to a heap buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor patches and updates promptly to address the vulnerability.
Consider blocking or restricting access to *.WAV files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement proper input validation and boundary checks in file parsing code.

Patching and Updates

Refer to vendor advisories such as FEDORA-2022-0fc7b22bcd, FEDORA-2022-737f020ede, FEDORA-2022-7df99d9f80, FEDORA-2022-cece705cbf, and FEDORA-2022-8e94ec2244 for patches and updates.