Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a libsndfile flaw in audio conversion handling. A crafted audio-related input involving NaN or Infinity floating-point values could cause an out-of-bounds read, potentially crashing software or exposing memory. Business risk is highest where services process untrusted audio files.
Executive priority
Handle as a patching and exposure-reduction item, not an emergency based on current evidence. Prioritize systems that automatically process user-supplied audio because the impact includes service disruption and possible information disclosure.
Technical view
CVE-2017-14246 affects libsndfile 1.0.28 in d2ulaw_array() within ulaw.c. The issue is an out-of-bounds read caused by mishandling NaN and Infinity floating-point values, with stated impact of remote denial of service or information disclosure.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely in applications, servers, or desktop workflows that use libsndfile to parse, convert, or process audio from untrusted sources. The source bundle does not enumerate affected distributions beyond referenced Debian, Ubuntu, and Gentoo advisories.
Exploitation context
The CVE record describes possible remote DoS or information disclosure, but the provided sources do not state active exploitation. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, so treat exploitation as plausible but not confirmed from these sources.
Researcher notes
The strongest technical detail is the CVE description: out-of-bounds read in d2ulaw_array() related to NaN and Infinity handling. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE mapping, exploit confirmation, or complete affected-version ranges.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory systems and applications using libsndfile, especially version 1.0.28.
- Apply libsndfile security updates from the relevant OS or vendor advisory.
- Restrict untrusted audio upload or conversion paths until patched.
- Prioritize internet-facing or automated audio processing services first.
Validation and detection
- Check installed libsndfile packages against Debian, Ubuntu, or Gentoo advisory status.
- Confirm bundled application dependencies do not include vulnerable libsndfile 1.0.28.
- Review logs for crashes in audio parsing or conversion workflows.
- Verify exposed services cannot process untrusted audio through vulnerable components.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2017-14246 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/erikd/libsndfile/issues/317CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- [debian-lts-announce] 20181226 [SECURITY] [DLA 1618-1] libsndfile security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- USN-4013-1CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_UBUNTU
- GLSA-202007-65CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201029 [SECURITY] [DLA 2418-1] libsndfile security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
