CVE-2003-0050 in Quicktime Streaming Server
Summary
by MITRE
parse_xml.cgi in Apple Darwin Streaming Administration Server 4.1.2 and QuickTime Streaming Server 4.1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0050 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in Apple's streaming server software ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically affects the parse_xml.cgi component within Apple Darwin Streaming Administration Server version 4.1.2 and QuickTime Streaming Server version 4.1.1, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these streaming platforms for media delivery and administration services. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing, particularly within XML parsing routines that handle administrative commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a classic command injection vulnerability through shell metacharacters embedded within XML input data. When the parse_xml.cgi script processes incoming XML requests, it does not adequately filter or escape special shell characters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that could be used to execute arbitrary system commands. This weakness allows remote attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable server, result in unintended command execution with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the server's inherent ability to interpret and execute shell commands as part of its normal operational procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected server infrastructure. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to install backdoors, modify server configurations, access sensitive media content, or use the compromised server as a launch point for further attacks against internal networks. The vulnerability affects organizations that deploy Apple's streaming solutions for enterprise media distribution, potentially exposing critical corporate assets and user data to unauthorized access. This represents a severe risk in environments where streaming servers handle proprietary content, customer data, or serve as part of larger network infrastructure components.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying vendor patches and updates as soon as they become available, implementing network segmentation to limit access to streaming server components, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious XML payloads. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively, and maps to attack patterns within the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and script injection. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments of their streaming infrastructure, review access controls, and implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing input validation and output encoding mechanisms at multiple layers to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems.