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CVE Record

CVE-2017-18189: In the startread function in xa.c in Sound eXchange (SoX) through 14.4.2, a corrupt header specifying zero...

In the startread function in xa.c in Sound eXchange (SoX) through 14.4.2, a corrupt header specifying zero channels triggers an infinite loop with a resultant NULL pointer dereference, which may allow a remote attacker to cause a denial-of-service.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

SoX can crash or hang when it reads a malformed XA audio file whose header says it has zero channels. The practical business risk is denial of service in systems that automatically process uploaded or externally supplied audio. No source in the bundle shows active exploitation.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation where SoX processes external files in customer-facing or automated workflows. Treat as routine patching for workstations or trusted-file-only use.

Technical view

CVE-2017-18189 affects Sound eXchange through 14.4.2 in startread in xa.c. A corrupt XA header with zero channels can trigger an infinite loop and NULL pointer dereference, producing denial of service. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, or confirmed affected distro package ranges.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in media conversion, upload scanning, transcription, archival, or batch-processing workflows where SoX parses untrusted audio files. Local-only desktop use on trusted files is lower risk.

Exploitation context

The CVE description says a remote attacker may cause denial of service via a corrupt header. KEV is false, and the provided sources do not show active exploitation, weaponized public exploits, or broader impact beyond availability.

Researcher notes

The core condition is XA parsing with zero channels in startread, causing an infinite loop and NULL dereference. Evidence supports availability impact only. Patch and distro advisory references exist, but this bundle does not include precise fixed upstream or package versions.

Mitigation direction

  • Update SoX using vendor or operating system security channels.
  • Review Debian, Red Hat, and Fedora advisories for applicable package status.
  • Restrict SoX from processing untrusted XA audio where possible.
  • Run media conversion in isolated, resource-limited workers.
  • Monitor vendor guidance if fixed package details are unclear.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems and containers with SoX installed.
  • Identify services that invoke SoX on user-supplied audio.
  • Check package versions against applicable vendor advisories.
  • Confirm media-processing workers have crash recovery and resource limits.
  • Review recent SoX crashes or hangs in processing logs.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
7Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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