CVE-2005-1106 in Quicktime Pictureviewer
Summary
by MITRE
PictureViewer in QuickTime for Windows 6.5.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a GIF image with the maximum depth start value, possibly triggering an integer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1106 represents a critical denial of service flaw within QuickTime for Windows 6.5.2's PictureViewer component. This issue specifically manifests when processing GIF image files that contain a maximum depth start value, creating a condition that can lead to application instability and complete system crash. The vulnerability resides in how the software handles image parsing operations, particularly when encountering malformed GIF metadata that triggers unexpected behavior in the underlying image processing engine.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the manipulation of GIF image format specifications to create a payload that triggers an integer overflow condition. The flaw occurs during the parsing of GIF image headers where the maximum depth start value is interpreted in a manner that causes arithmetic overflow within the application's memory management routines. This integer overflow results in memory corruption that ultimately leads to application termination and system instability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow condition, specifically involving signed integer overflow that occurs during image processing operations. The attack vector is remote, meaning that malicious actors can exploit this flaw without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1106 extends beyond simple application disruption to potentially compromise system availability and user productivity. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause QuickTime for Windows to crash repeatedly, rendering the multimedia application unusable until the system is restarted or the vulnerable component is patched. In enterprise environments where QuickTime is widely deployed for multimedia content delivery, this vulnerability could lead to significant downtime and productivity loss. The remote nature of the attack means that users may be exposed to this vulnerability simply by opening or previewing a malicious GIF image, either through email attachments, web browsing, or file sharing operations. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be triggered without user interaction beyond the initial image viewing operation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected QuickTime for Windows 6.5.2 software, as well as implementing network-level controls to prevent access to potentially malicious GIF content. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the vendor-provided security update that addresses the integer overflow condition in the PictureViewer component. Additional defensive measures include implementing content filtering solutions that can identify and block suspicious GIF files, particularly those with unusual header values or metadata. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can further reduce the attack surface by limiting which systems can access multimedia content. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving denial of service and privilege escalation, as the successful exploitation can lead to broader system compromise and service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous application behavior or frequent crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in multimedia processing libraries and highlights the need for robust memory management practices in software that handles user-supplied content.