CVE-2024-42011 Overview
CVE-2024-42011 is a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Spotify application version 8.9.58 for iOS. The flaw resides in the application's use of the strcat function, which performs string concatenation without bounds checking. An attacker can supply input that exceeds the destination buffer, corrupting adjacent memory and causing the application to crash. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-120] (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input). The issue affects application availability and can be triggered remotely through crafted input processed by the affected component.
Critical Impact
Exploitation of CVE-2024-42011 leads to application crashes and denial of service on iOS devices running the affected Spotify version, with potential for further memory corruption consequences.
Affected Products
- Spotify for iOS version 8.9.58
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-28 - CVE-2024-42011 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-42011
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from the unsafe use of the C standard library function strcat inside the Spotify iOS application version 8.9.58. The strcat function appends a source string to a destination buffer but performs no validation that the destination has sufficient capacity. When the combined length of the existing destination contents and the source string exceeds the buffer size, adjacent memory is overwritten. This produces classic stack or heap corruption depending on where the destination buffer resides.
In the Spotify iOS context, the corruption causes the application to terminate unexpectedly. Users have reported constant crashes, lag, and excessive battery consumption consistent with repeated process restarts and memory pressure. The flaw is reachable over the network attack surface of the application, which processes external content during normal operation.
Root Cause
The root cause is the developer's choice of strcat instead of bounded alternatives such as strlcat or strncat. The function trusts that the destination buffer is large enough for the appended data, which is an unsafe assumption when any portion of the input originates from untrusted sources. The absence of length validation before concatenation enables the overflow.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires no privileges or user interaction beyond normal application usage. An attacker delivers input that flows into the vulnerable strcat call path within the iOS application. When the application concatenates this oversized data into a fixed-size buffer, the overflow occurs and the process crashes. The current public analysis describes an availability impact rather than confirmed code execution, but buffer overflows of this class can in some conditions be leveraged for further exploitation. For reproduction details, refer to the Notion Buffer Overflow Report.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-42011
Indicators of Compromise
- Repeated, unexplained crashes of the Spotify iOS application on version 8.9.58
- iOS crash reports showing memory access violations or stack corruption signatures originating in the Spotify process
- Elevated battery consumption and device heat correlated with Spotify process restarts, as documented in the Spotify Community Discussion
Detection Strategies
- Inventory mobile devices to identify installations of Spotify iOS version 8.9.58 using Mobile Device Management (MDM) reporting
- Collect and review iOS crash logs from managed devices for the Spotify bundle identifier
- Monitor application telemetry for abnormal termination patterns tied to the affected version
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure MDM policies to flag devices running outdated Spotify builds at or below version 8.9.58
- Centralize iOS crash reports in a logging platform and alert on recurring crashes attributed to third-party media applications
- Track network traffic anomalies from devices repeatedly restarting the Spotify process
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-42011
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Spotify iOS application to the latest available version released after 8.9.58 through the Apple App Store
- Identify devices still running the vulnerable build and enforce update compliance through MDM
- Restrict installation of outdated Spotify packages distributed outside the official App Store
Patch Information
No specific vendor security advisory URL is published in the NVD record for CVE-2024-42011. Users should upgrade to the latest Spotify iOS release available in the Apple App Store, which supersedes version 8.9.58. Refer to the technical references in the NVD entry for additional context.
Workarounds
- Uninstall the Spotify iOS application on devices unable to update until a patched version is installed
- Use the Spotify web player as a temporary alternative on managed devices where the native application cannot be updated immediately
- Apply MDM application allow-listing to block the vulnerable build until remediation is confirmed
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
