CVE-2004-1123 in Mac OS X
Summary
by MITRE
Darwin Streaming Server 5.0.1, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server crash) via a DESCRIBE request with a location that contains a null byte.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The Darwin Streaming Server version 5.0.1 and potentially earlier releases contain a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack through a carefully crafted DESCRIBE request. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the server's handling of streaming protocol requests, specifically targeting the location field within DESCRIBE messages. The flaw manifests when a malicious actor submits a DESCRIBE request containing a null byte within the location parameter, which triggers an improper memory handling condition that ultimately leads to server crash and complete service disruption.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length parameters, and CWE-170, which covers improper null termination. The server's failure to properly sanitize input data during the processing of streaming protocol requests creates an exploitable condition where a null byte injection can cause memory corruption or buffer overflows. When the server attempts to process the malformed location field containing the null byte, it likely encounters an unexpected termination character that disrupts normal execution flow, causing the application to terminate abruptly without proper error handling or graceful degradation mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Darwin Streaming Server for media delivery services. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the network without requiring local system access or authentication credentials. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can result in complete loss of streaming capabilities for affected media services, potentially affecting thousands of concurrent users depending on the scale of deployment. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require sophisticated techniques or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily limited to systems running Darwin Streaming Server versions 5.0.1 or earlier that are accessible over the network. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, while also monitoring for suspicious DESCRIBE request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework would fall under the T1499.004 technique for Network Denial of Service, specifically targeting streaming media services. Additionally, this weakness could be leveraged as part of a broader attack campaign targeting media infrastructure, potentially serving as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks or as a method to disrupt business operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions of Darwin Streaming Server where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also implement input validation controls at network boundaries to filter out malformed DESCRIBE requests containing null bytes or other suspicious characters. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect and alert on unusual patterns of streaming protocol requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potentially affected systems within the network infrastructure, as similar issues may exist in other streaming or media server implementations.