CVE-2004-1455 in xine-lib
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Xine-lib-rc5 in xine-lib 1_rc5-r2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted playlists that result in a long vcd:// URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1455 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the xine-lib media library version 1_rc5-r2 and earlier releases. This flaw exists in the handling of playlist files, specifically when processing vcd:// URLs that are excessively long, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the playlist parsing functionality of the xine multimedia framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the xine-lib library processes maliciously crafted playlist files containing overly long vcd:// URLs. The library fails to properly validate the length of URL parameters before copying them into fixed-size stack buffers, allowing an attacker to overflow the allocated memory space. This buffer overflow can be exploited to overwrite return addresses and other critical stack data, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through network-based playlist delivery, making it a significant threat to media playback applications that support playlist parsing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can be leveraged to compromise entire systems running vulnerable versions of xine-lib. Attackers can craft malicious playlists that, when loaded by an application using the affected library, will trigger the buffer overflow and provide remote code execution capabilities. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive for attackers targeting media servers, multimedia applications, or any system that processes user-supplied playlist files. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction beyond loading the malicious playlist, making it a significant risk for automated exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1455 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, with the primary solution being the upgrade to xine-lib versions 1.1.0 and later where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking. System administrators should also implement network-based restrictions to prevent the automatic loading of external playlist files, particularly those with vcd:// URI schemes. Additionally, deployment of intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious playlist content patterns and implementing application whitelisting controls can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for multimedia applications and ensuring that such applications are not running with elevated privileges. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation typically involves the execution of arbitrary code through modified playlist parameters.