CVE-2005-3710 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Apple Quicktime before 7.0.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a TIFF image file with modified image height and width (ImageWidth) tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3710 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Apple QuickTime media framework versions prior to 7.0.4. This issue specifically affects the processing of TIFF image files through the ImageWidth and ImageHeight metadata tags, creating a condition where attackers can manipulate these values to trigger memory corruption. The flaw exists in the image parsing logic that fails to properly validate the size parameters before allocating memory for image processing operations. When a maliciously crafted TIFF file is processed, the overflow occurs during the calculation of memory allocation requirements, leading to unpredictable behavior in the application's memory management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within QuickTime's TIFF parser component. When the software encounters a TIFF file with modified ImageWidth and ImageHeight tags, it performs arithmetic operations on these values without sufficient bounds checking. This allows an attacker to set these parameters to values that, when processed mathematically, exceed the maximum representable value for the integer type used in the allocation calculation. The resulting overflow produces a memory allocation that is either insufficient or excessive, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users who may encounter malicious TIFF files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing networks. The remote execution aspect means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, making this a particularly dangerous flaw in the context of web-based attacks. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques categorized under the attack pattern taxonomy, specifically relating to buffer overflows and memory corruption exploits. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow full system compromise, as the overflow occurs in a critical media processing component that may have elevated privileges during file handling operations.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3710 primarily involve immediate patching of affected QuickTime installations to version 7.0.4 or later, which includes proper integer overflow checking in the TIFF parsing routines. Organizations should implement network-based controls to block suspicious TIFF file types at network perimeters and deploy endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent execution of malicious media files. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual file processing patterns and potential exploitation attempts targeting media frameworks. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection mechanisms, principles that are fundamental to the common weakness enumeration framework and align with security best practices for preventing memory corruption vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the necessity of regular security updates and the critical nature of validating all external input data in multimedia processing applications.