CVE-2003-0502 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Apple QuickTime / Darwin Streaming Server before 4.1.3g allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a .. (dot dot) sequence followed by an MS-DOS device name (e.g. AUX) in a request to HTTP port 1220, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0421.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0502 represents a significant denial of service weakness affecting Apple QuickTime and Darwin Streaming Server versions prior to 4.1.3g. This flaw specifically targets the server's handling of HTTP requests processed on port 1220, which is commonly used for streaming media services. The vulnerability exploits a path traversal mechanism that occurs when the server processes malformed URI requests containing directory traversal sequences combined with MS-DOS device names, creating a condition that leads to unexpected server behavior and potential system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific combination of characters that the server fails to properly validate or sanitize. When an attacker crafts a request containing a .. (dot dot) sequence followed by an MS-DOS device name such as AUX, the server's HTTP processing logic becomes confused during path resolution. This particular combination triggers a parsing error in the server's file system access routines, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level within the HTTP server implementation, specifically affecting how the server interprets and processes URI components that contain both path traversal elements and device name references.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a clear threat to streaming media services that rely on Apple's Darwin Streaming Server. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affecting content delivery networks and media streaming platforms that depend on stable server operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to repeatedly crash streaming servers, causing extended downtime for legitimate users and potentially affecting business continuity for organizations that depend on uninterrupted media delivery services. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue means that even a single malicious request can bring down the entire streaming service, making it particularly dangerous in production environments.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and accessible to remote attackers who can send HTTP requests to port 1220 of affected servers. This makes it particularly concerning as it requires no special privileges or physical access to the system. The exploitation process involves crafting a specific URL pattern that combines directory traversal with MS-DOS device names, which the server cannot properly handle. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices in the server's URI processing code and highlights the importance of proper sanitization of user-supplied data in network services. Organizations should consider implementing network-level protections and monitoring for unusual patterns of requests targeting port 1220, as this represents a common attack surface for denial of service attacks against streaming media services.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw also relates to CWE-129, which covers improper validation of the length or contents of a buffer, as the server's response to malformed input causes unexpected behavior. The attack pattern follows the techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, specifically targeting the availability of network services through malformed requests. Additionally, this vulnerability represents a classic example of how legacy systems can contain fundamental flaws in input handling that persist across multiple versions without proper security patches. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of affected systems to version 4.1.3g or later, along with network segmentation and monitoring to prevent exploitation of unpatched systems.
The broader implications of this vulnerability extend to the security practices of media streaming providers and organizations that deploy legacy streaming solutions. It demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches for network services and highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws in URI processing can result in significant service disruptions. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing of network protocols and the importance of validating all user inputs against known attack patterns. Organizations should implement regular vulnerability assessments and maintain updated security monitoring systems to detect and respond to similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other network services.