CVE-2004-1951 in Xine
Summary
by MITRE
xine 1.x alpha, 1.x beta, and 1.0rc through 1.0rc3a, and xine-ui 0.9.21 to 0.9.23 allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via the (1) audio.sun_audio_device or (2) dxr3.devicename options in an MRL link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1951 represents a critical file overwriting flaw affecting the xine multimedia framework and its associated user interface components. This issue impacts multiple versions of the xine library including various alpha, beta, and release candidate versions, as well as specific iterations of xine-ui from 0.9.21 through 0.9.23. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling of multimedia resource locator (MRL) links that contain specially crafted parameters designed to manipulate the application's file system operations.
The technical flaw manifests through two specific configuration parameters within the xine framework: audio.sun_audio_device and dxr3.devicename options. When these parameters are embedded within MRL links and processed by the vulnerable xine applications, they create opportunities for remote attackers to manipulate file paths and overwrite arbitrary files on the target system. This occurs because the applications fail to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before using it in file system operations, creating a classic path traversal vulnerability that can be exploited across network boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file overwrites to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. An attacker could leverage this flaw to overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or even executable components within the xine framework itself, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where multimedia applications are commonly used. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 Path Traversal in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing malicious commands through manipulated file paths.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected xine versions, implementing strict input validation for all MRL parameters, and employing network-level restrictions to prevent unauthorized access to multimedia applications. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious file modification patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure input handling in multimedia frameworks and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous configuration options can become attack vectors when proper validation is absent. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to multimedia applications and implement proper access controls to prevent unauthorized users from injecting malicious MRL links into the system.