CVE-2002-1014 in RealJukebox 2
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in RealJukebox 2 1.0.2.340 and 1.0.2.379, and RealOne Player Gold 6.0.10.505, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an RFS skin file whose skin.ini contains a long value in a CONTROLnImage argument, such as CONTROL1Image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1014 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting RealJukebox and RealOne Player software versions. This issue resides within the parsing mechanism of skin files that define the user interface elements of these media players. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of the skin.ini configuration file which contains various control parameters including the CONTROLnImage argument where n represents a numeric identifier. When an attacker crafts a malicious RFS skin file containing an excessively long value in the CONTROLnImage parameter, the software fails to properly validate input length before copying data into fixed-size buffers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw occurs during the processing of skin configuration files when the application attempts to parse the CONTROLnImage argument without adequate length validation. This creates a situation where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data structures. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through remote delivery mechanisms since the malicious skin file can be hosted on web servers or distributed through other network-based attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. An attacker who successfully exploits this buffer overflow can gain arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application process, typically running with the same permissions as the user who launched the media player. This allows for privilege escalation attacks, system reconnaissance, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of RealNetworks media players, making it particularly widespread and dangerous for organizations that have legacy systems running these applications. The attack surface is expanded because many users may unknowingly download and execute malicious skin files from untrusted sources, especially in environments where media player customization is common.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected software versions, as RealNetworks released updates to address the buffer overflow conditions in their media players. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies for skin files and other user-supplied content, particularly those that are parsed by media applications. Network-based defenses should include filtering of known malicious file types and implementing application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized skin files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in software development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the risks of executing untrusted media content and skin files from unknown sources, as this vulnerability often relies on social engineering to deliver malicious payloads through seemingly legitimate media player customization features.