CVE-2004-1034 in Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the http_open function in Kaffeine before 0.5, whose code is also used in gxine before 0.3.3, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long Content-Type header for a Real Audio Media (.ram) playlist file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1034 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting multimedia playback applications that handle real-time audio streaming protocols. This issue specifically targets the http_open function within Kaffeine media player versions prior to 0.5, with the vulnerable code also present in gxine versions before 0.3.3. The flaw occurs when processing Real Audio Media playlist files with maliciously crafted Content-Type headers, creating a security risk that extends beyond simple denial of service to potential arbitrary code execution capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the http_open function that processes network requests for real-time audio streams. When a maliciously long Content-Type header is transmitted in a .ram playlist file, the application fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling remote code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for networked multimedia applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for users of affected media players who may unknowingly download and play malicious playlist files from untrusted sources. The impact extends to both availability and integrity aspects of system security, as attackers can trigger application crashes that deny legitimate service access while simultaneously gaining potential code execution privileges. The vulnerability affects the broader ecosystem of multimedia applications that utilize similar code bases, demonstrating how security flaws in one component can propagate across related software products.
The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions that occur when data is copied into a buffer without proper bounds checking. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems through malicious file delivery mechanisms. Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigation strategies including software updates to versions that contain patched implementations of the http_open function, network segmentation to limit exposure, and user education regarding the dangers of downloading playlist files from untrusted sources. Additionally, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed Content-Type headers may provide supplementary protection against exploitation attempts.