CVE-2022-39891 - Heap Overflow Vulnerability in parse_pce Function in libsavsaudio.so in Editor Lite prior to Version 4..41.3 Disclosed, Patch Available

A heap overflow vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-39891, has been discovered in the parse_pce function in libsavsaudio.so in Editor Lite versions earlier than 4..41.3. This security flaw allows an attacker to obtain sensitive information from the application's memory, potentially leading to further exploitation of the affected system. In this article, we will discuss the details of the vulnerability, including its root cause, exploit details, and mitigation steps.

Background

Editor Lite is a popular audio editing software, widely used by professionals and enthusiasts for post-production, mixing and other audio-related tasks. The vulnerability was introduced in the parse_pce function within the libsavsaudio.so shared library.

Vulnerability Details

The heap overflow vulnerability in the parse_pce function is a result of improper handling of bounds check-related operations, leading to a buffer overflow. A specially crafted audio file input can cause the program to read and write beyond the allocated memory, resulting in a heap overflow.

The following code snippet demonstrates the vulnerable parse_pce function

static int parse_pce(struct AVCodecContext *avctx, tSavSaAudioPCE *pce)
{
    int i;
    GetBitContext *gb = &avctx->dyn_bit_buf;
    
    ...
    
    for (i = ; i < pce->num_ele; i++) {
        if ((pce->tag[i] = get_bits(gb, 4)) == 15) {
            pce->group[i] = get_bits(gb, 4);
        } else {
            pce->para[i] = get_bits(gb, 7);
        }
    }
    
    ...
}

In the loop where i iterates from to pce->num_ele, tag[i], group[i], and para[i] are filled with data from the bit buffer. Due to improper bounds check, tag[i], group[i], and para[i] can potentially overwrite other memory locations in the heap, which are unrelated to the current function.

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious audio file that contains a payload triggering the heap overflow. Once the file is opened using Editor Lite, the custom payload is executed, allowing the attacker to read sensitive information from the memory. This could potentially lead to additional attacks, such as privilege escalation, or access to user credentials stored in memory.

Mitigation

The vulnerability has been patched by the Editor Lite development team in version 4..41.3. Users are urged to update their software to the latest version to mitigate the risk posed by this issue.

Here's the link to the official patch release and supporting documentation

- Editor Lite 4..41.3 Release Notes
- Editor Lite 4..41.3 Patch Download

Conclusion

The discovery and remediation of CVE-2022-39891 highlight the importance of staying up-to-date with software updates and patches. Users should ensure they are running the latest Editor Lite version (4..41.3) to protect themselves from the heap overflow vulnerability and potential data leaks. Developers must follow best practices in handling bounds checking while writing code, and thorough security testing is crucial before releasing any software.

Timeline

Published on: 11/09/2022 22:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/14/2022 14:18:00 UTC