CVE-2005-0455 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the CSmil1Parser::testAttributeFailed function in smlparse.cpp for RealNetworks RealPlayer 10.5 (6.0.12.1056 and earlier), 10, 8, and RealOne Player V2 and V1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .SMIL file with a large system-screen-size value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0455 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in RealNetworks RealPlayer software versions 10.5, 10, 8, and RealOne Player V2 and V1. This security weakness exists within the CSmil1Parser::testAttributeFailed function located in the smlparse.cpp source file, making it a significant target for remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing malformed .SMIL files containing excessively large system-screen-size values, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system control. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) files, which are used to describe multimedia presentations and their timing. When RealPlayer processes a specially crafted .SMIL file with an oversized system-screen-size parameter, the parsing function fails to validate the input size before copying data to a fixed-size stack buffer. This insufficient input validation creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overflow the buffer and overwrite critical stack memory, including return addresses and function pointers. The vulnerability's exploitation follows ATT&CK technique T1203, leveraging software vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code remotely, making it particularly dangerous for unpatched systems that process multimedia content from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-0455 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, establish backdoors, or perform privilege escalation attacks. The widespread adoption of RealPlayer across various platforms made this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it could affect numerous users who downloaded multimedia content from the internet. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers could deliver malicious SMIL files through email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites, requiring no local system access to initiate attacks. Security professionals identified this issue as a high-risk vulnerability due to its ease of exploitation and the potential for widespread system compromise, particularly affecting organizations that relied on RealPlayer for multimedia content delivery.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0455 centered around immediate patch deployment from RealNetworks, which provided updated versions of RealPlayer that implemented proper bounds checking and input validation. System administrators were advised to disable SMIL file processing capabilities in RealPlayer or implement strict file type filtering to prevent execution of potentially malicious .SMIL files. Network-level defenses included implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block suspicious SMIL file downloads. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation practices, with security professionals emphasizing that similar flaws in other multimedia applications could pose comparable risks. Organizations were encouraged to conduct vulnerability assessments of their multimedia processing systems and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such exploits, particularly in environments where users might inadvertently download malicious content from untrusted sources.