CVE-2004-1187 in xine-lib
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the pnm_get_chunk function for xine 0.99.2, and other packages such as MPlayer that use the same code, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via long PNA_TAG values, a different vulnerability than CVE-2004-1188.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1187 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting multimedia processing libraries that utilize the xine framework. This flaw exists within the pnm_get_chunk function, which is responsible for parsing PNA_TAG values during media file processing. The vulnerability specifically impacts xine version 0.99.2 and related packages including MPlayer, which share the same problematic codebase. The issue stems from inadequate input validation when handling PNA_TAG values, creating a condition where maliciously crafted data can overflow allocated heap memory buffers. This particular vulnerability differs from CVE-2004-1188, indicating it operates through distinct code paths within the same software ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits memory management weaknesses in the heap allocation process. When the pnm_get_chunk function processes PNA_TAG values, it fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size heap buffers. This allows attackers to supply excessively long PNA_TAG values that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in memory corruption. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that the corruption affects the program's dynamic memory allocation structures rather than stack memory, making exploitation more complex but potentially more reliable. The vulnerability operates through the standard input processing pipeline of multimedia applications, making it accessible through various attack vectors including network-based delivery of malicious media files.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-1187 is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected systems. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems with the privileges of the affected application process. This capability enables full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent access to compromised hosts. The vulnerability affects widely deployed multimedia applications across multiple platforms, amplifying its potential impact. Attackers can craft malicious media files containing oversized PNA_TAG values that trigger the buffer overflow when processed by vulnerable software. The exploitation requires no local privileges and can be accomplished through network-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multimedia content is frequently processed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1187 should focus on immediate software updates and patch management. The most effective solution involves upgrading to patched versions of xine and affected packages like MPlayer where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking. System administrators should implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent processing of untrusted multimedia files. Additional protective measures include running affected applications with reduced privileges, implementing heap protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of potentially vulnerable multimedia processing applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classifications and represents a technique commonly mapped to ATT&CK tactic T1059 for code execution through application vulnerabilities.