CVE-2006-0579 in MPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in (1) the new_demux_packet function in demuxer.h and (2) the demux_asf_read_packet function in demux_asf.c in MPlayer 1.0pre7try2 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an ASF file with a large packet length value. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; portions of the details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0579 represents a critical security flaw affecting MPlayer version 1.0pre7try2 and earlier, where multiple integer overflows occur in the ASF (Advanced Systems Format) media file handling components. This vulnerability resides in the demuxer.h and demux_asf.c files, specifically within the new_demux_packet function and demux_asf_read_packet function respectively. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through carefully crafted ASF files containing oversized packet length values, making it a significant threat to systems that process multimedia content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, where the software fails to properly handle integer values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type being used. In the context of media file parsing, when MPlayer encounters an ASF file with an unusually large packet length value, the integer overflow occurs during the memory allocation or buffer handling processes. This overflow can result in memory corruption that attackers can potentially exploit to overwrite critical memory locations and inject malicious code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the demultiplexing layer, which is responsible for extracting audio and video streams from container formats, making it a fundamental component of media processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability that can be triggered without user interaction once a malicious ASF file is accessed. Attackers can craft specially formatted ASF files that contain packet length values designed to overflow the integer variables, leading to unpredictable behavior including buffer overflows, memory corruption, and ultimately arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users might encounter untrusted multimedia content, such as email attachments, web downloads, or streaming services. The fact that this vulnerability affects MPlayer, a widely used media player across multiple operating systems, amplifies its potential impact.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected MPlayer versions, as the vulnerability was present in pre-release versions that were widely distributed. System administrators should implement network-level restrictions to prevent access to untrusted multimedia content and consider deploying application whitelisting policies to limit execution of potentially vulnerable media players. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for media processing applications and maintaining up-to-date security patches for all multimedia handling components. Given the nature of integer overflow vulnerabilities, defensive programming practices including input validation, bounds checking, and proper integer handling should be enforced in all media processing libraries to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.