CVE-2005-4092 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in QuickTime.qts in Apple QuickTime Player 7.0.3 and iTunes 6.0.1 (3) and earlier allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and execute arbitrary code via a .mov file with (1) a Movie Resource atom with a large size value, or (2) an stsd atom with a modified Sample Description Table size value, and possibly other vectors involving media files. NOTE: item 1 was originally identified by CVE-2005-4127 for a pre-patch announcement, and item 2 was originally identified by CVE-2005-4128 for a pre-patch announcement.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4092 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime Player 7.0.3 and iTunes 6.0.1, affecting systems that process media files through the QuickTime framework. This vulnerability resides within the QuickTime.qts component, which is responsible for handling various multimedia formats including the widely used .mov files. The flaw manifests when these applications process malformed media files that contain specially crafted atom structures, specifically Movie Resource atoms and stsd atoms, which are fundamental components of the QuickTime file format structure. These atoms contain metadata and sample description information that the player uses to decode and render multimedia content, making them prime targets for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors that leverage different atom structures within QuickTime files. The first vector involves a Movie Resource atom with an excessively large size value, which causes the application to allocate insufficient memory for processing the atom's contents. When the application attempts to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, it triggers a heap-based buffer overflow that can corrupt adjacent memory regions. The second vector exploits an stsd atom with a modified Sample Description Table size value, where the application misinterprets the table size and subsequently attempts to process invalid memory locations. Both vectors result in the same fundamental issue: the application's memory management becomes corrupted, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to end-user systems as it can be exploited through simple media file delivery mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious .mov files that, when opened by an affected QuickTime player or iTunes application, will cause immediate crashes or potentially enable remote code execution. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient memory is allocated for data structures. This particular vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of known vulnerabilities in applications, specifically targeting media players that handle untrusted file content. The attack surface extends beyond just desktop applications as iTunes was commonly used for media management and synchronization, potentially providing attackers with additional attack vectors through device synchronization processes.
The exploitation of these vulnerabilities requires minimal technical sophistication, as the attack vectors involve creating specifically formatted media files rather than complex exploit development. However, the impact is severe as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's presence in both QuickTime Player and iTunes applications amplifies the risk, as these components are widely distributed and frequently used across different operating systems. Organizations and individuals using affected versions should immediately implement mitigations including software updates, network segmentation to prevent untrusted file execution, and application whitelisting to restrict the execution of potentially malicious media files. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management in multimedia processing libraries, as these components often handle untrusted data from external sources without sufficient sanitization.