CVE-2004-0557: Multiple buffer overflows in the st_wavstartread function in wav.c for Sound eXchange (SoX) 12.17.2 through 12

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HIGH 10.0WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2004-0557 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting sox, linux, linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Multiple buffer overflows in the st_wavstartread function in wav.c for Sound eXchange (SoX) 12.17.2 through 12.17.4 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain WAV file header fields.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	25.1% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2004-08-06
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: conectiva · gentoo · redhat · sox

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2004-08-06 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:05 UTCUpdated Record last modified

sox sox DOWNGRADE

Affected: 12.17.2 · 12.17.3 · 12.17.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.17.2

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy sox || rpm -q sox || sox --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 12.17.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison sox sudo apt install sox=<VERSION_BEFORE_12.17.2> sudo apt-mark hold sox

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list sox sudo dnf downgrade sox-<VERSION_BEFORE_12.17.2> sudo dnf versionlock add sox

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

conectiva linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 9.0 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

gentoo linux MITIGATE

Affected: 1.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.4

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 3.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 3.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat fedora core MITIGATE

Affected: core_1.0 · core_2.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before core_1.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: SoX - '.wav' Local Buffer Overflow
Exploit-DB: SoX - Local Buffer Overflow

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2004-0557?

sox: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2004-0557 being exploited?

CVE-2004-0557 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2004-0557 affect?

CVE-2004-0557 affects sox, linux, linux. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Multiple buffer overflows in the st_wavstartread function in wav.c for Sound eXchange (SoX) 12.17.2 through 12.17.4 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain WAV file header fields.

How urgent is CVE-2004-0557?

Priority 69/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

References

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