CVE-2004-0387 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the RT3 plugin, as used in RealPlayer 8, RealOne Player, RealOne Player 10 beta, and RealOne Player Enterprise, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malformed .R3T file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0387 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the RT3 plugin component of several RealNetworks media players including RealPlayer 8, RealOne Player, RealOne Player 10 beta, and RealOne Player Enterprise. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed .R3T files which are used for real-time streaming protocol data transmission within the RealNetworks ecosystem. The flaw occurs when the plugin processes specially crafted or malformed .R3T files that contain excessive data in buffer allocations, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the RT3 plugin's parsing routines for .R3T file structures. When a malicious .R3T file is processed, the plugin fails to validate the size of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers, creating a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. The overflow can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical control data structures, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users of affected RealNetworks players since it can be exploited remotely through web-based delivery mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious .R3T files and distribute them via websites, email attachments, or other means to compromise systems running vulnerable versions of RealPlayer or RealOne Player. The exploitation capability allows for complete system compromise, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to full system takeover, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through remote code injection mechanisms.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual system compromise to affect enterprise environments where these players might be deployed in automated or unattended configurations. Organizations using RealOne Player Enterprise versions face particular risk since these enterprise deployments often have broader network access and may be used in environments with less security monitoring. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that no user interaction is required beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might inadvertently encounter such files. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and memory safety practices in media player and plugin architectures, as these components often handle untrusted data from external sources. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw underscores the need for immediate patching and network segmentation measures to protect against exploitation attempts.