CVE-2004-0169 in Quicktime Streaming Server
Summary
by MITRE
QuickTime Streaming Server in MacOS X 10.2.8 and 10.3.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via DESCRIBE requests with long User-Agent fields, which causes an Assert error to be triggered in the BufferIsFull function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0169 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the QuickTime Streaming Server component of Apple MacOS X versions 10.2.8 and 10.3.2. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the server's handling of RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) DESCRIBE requests, specifically targeting the User-Agent field parameter. The flaw operates by exploiting a buffer management function that fails to properly validate the length of incoming User-Agent strings, creating a condition where maliciously crafted requests can trigger an assertion failure in the BufferIsFull function.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests as an assertion error rather than a traditional memory corruption exploit. When a remote attacker sends a DESCRIBE request containing an excessively long User-Agent field, the QuickTime Streaming Server processes this input without adequate bounds checking. The BufferIsFull function, which is responsible for managing internal buffer states, encounters an unexpected condition when it attempts to handle the oversized input, resulting in an Assert error that terminates the server process. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length of inputs to ensure they are within acceptable ranges, and specifically relates to CWE-770, which covers allocation of resources without proper limits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it provides attackers with a reliable method to crash the QuickTime Streaming Server, effectively rendering the multimedia streaming capabilities of affected MacOS X systems unavailable. This denial of service condition can be exploited by any remote attacker with access to the network port where the streaming server operates, typically port 554 for RTSP traffic. The consequences include complete service unavailability for legitimate users, potential business disruption for organizations relying on QuickTime streaming services, and the requirement for system administrators to manually restart the affected services. Organizations using MacOS X for multimedia streaming or content delivery would face significant operational challenges, particularly in environments where continuous availability is critical.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0169 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MacOS X versions through Apple's security updates, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases of the operating system. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to the QuickTime Streaming Server ports from untrusted networks, effectively reducing the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in RTSP DESCRIBE requests, particularly those with abnormally long User-Agent fields. The implementation of input validation controls at the application level, including limiting the maximum length of User-Agent strings to reasonable values, provides an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed RTSP requests that match the vulnerability characteristics. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and proper error handling in network services, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks and emphasizing the need for robust buffer management practices in server applications.