Denial of Service Vulnerability in TiMidity++

timidity Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

31/07/2017

Disclosed on

N/A

Severity

No i

Fix available

Medium

Severity

5.5

CVSS Score

CVE-2017-11549: The play_midi function in playmidi.c in TiMidity++ 2.14.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (large loop and CPU consumption) via a crafted mid file. Affects timidity versions 2.14.0-8 – 2.14.0-8.3. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

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Background

TiMidity++ is an open-source software synthesizer that allows users to play MIDI files. It is commonly used in various Linux distributions, including Debian 10, 11, 12, and 13. TiMidity++ provides a command-line interface for playing MIDI files and offers options for background playback. However, a vulnerability has been discovered in version 2.14.0 of TiMidity++ that can lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack when processing a specially crafted MIDI file.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2017-11549, originates from the 'play_midi' function in the 'playmidi.c' file of TiMidity++. By exploiting this vulnerability, remote attackers can cause a DoS condition by sending a maliciously crafted MIDI file. When the affected version of TiMidity++ attempts to process this file, it enters a large loop, resulting in excessive CPU consumption and rendering the system unresponsive. It is important to note that the impact of this vulnerability is primarily relevant when using the '--background' option.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

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Workaround

As a workaround, users can avoid using the '--background' option when playing MIDI files with TiMidity++. By not enabling background playback, the vulnerability can be mitigated. However, this workaround may not be feasible for users who specifically require background playback functionality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TiMidity++ version 2.14.0 is vulnerable to a denial of service (DoS) attack when processing a specially crafted MIDI file. Users are advised to update to the latest version of TiMidity++ available in the official Debian repositories to mitigate this vulnerability. Additionally, avoiding the use of the '--background' option can serve as a temporary workaround. For further assistance or support in addressing this vulnerability, please contact DevNack.com.

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