CVE-2006-2802 in xine-lib
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the HTTP Plugin (xineplug_inp_http.so) for xine-lib 1.1.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a long reply from an HTTP server, as demonstrated using gxine 0.5.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2802 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the HTTP Plugin component of xine-lib version 1.1.1. This flaw specifically affects the xineplug_inp_http.so module which serves as the HTTP input plugin for the xine multimedia framework. The vulnerability manifests when the plugin receives an excessively long reply from an HTTP server, causing memory corruption that leads to application instability and potential system crashes. This issue is particularly concerning as it operates at the core of multimedia playback functionality where users might encounter malicious content during normal operation.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate input validation within the HTTP plugin's response handling mechanism. When xine-lib processes HTTP responses, it fails to properly check the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This primitive memory management error creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete application termination. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can accommodate, causing adjacent memory to be overwritten.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to disrupt multimedia playback services and potentially compromise system stability. When exploited through gxine 0.5.6, the vulnerability demonstrates how a remote attacker can manipulate HTTP server responses to trigger the buffer overflow condition, resulting in application crashes that interrupt user experience and potentially expose underlying system vulnerabilities. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to cause system instability and service disruption.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites and can be executed remotely through standard HTTP protocols, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently access web-based multimedia content. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected versions of xine-lib, as the vulnerability exists in the core multimedia framework components that are widely deployed across various Linux distributions and multimedia applications. Remediation efforts must focus on updating to patched versions of xine-lib that implement proper input validation and buffer size checking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized memory access patterns that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks.