CVE-2006-1463 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a H.264 (M4V) video format file with a certain modified size value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1463 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime software versions prior to 7.1, specifically affecting the handling of H.264 encoded video files with modified size values. This flaw resides within the multimedia processing framework of QuickTime and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to remote code execution. The vulnerability operates through a classic heap corruption mechanism where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent heap data structures and enabling arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper parsing of M4V video files that contain specially crafted size fields within their H.264 encoded structures. When QuickTime processes these malformed video files, it fails to validate the size parameters before using them to allocate heap memory, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overflow buffer boundaries. This heap-based overflow directly violates the principles of secure memory management and represents a CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate heap metadata and potentially overwrite function pointers or return addresses, enabling remote code execution with the privileges of the affected application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to full system compromise, as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems without requiring user interaction. Systems running affected QuickTime versions become susceptible to exploitation when processing or previewing maliciously crafted video files, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in web-based environments where users might unknowingly encounter compromised content. The attack vector operates entirely through network delivery of malicious video files, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and control execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1463 require immediate patching of affected QuickTime installations to version 7.1 or later, where Apple implemented proper bounds checking and input validation for H.264 video parsing. Organizations should also deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious video file traffic and implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted multimedia content. Additionally, users should disable automatic preview of multimedia files in web browsers and email clients, as these applications often utilize QuickTime components for media playback. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation in multimedia processing libraries and demonstrates how seemingly benign format parsing can become a critical security risk when adequate safeguards are not implemented.