CVE-2006-6847 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
An ActiveX control in ierpplug.dll for RealNetworks RealPlayer 10.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Internet Explorer 7 crash) by invoking the RealPlayer.OpenURLInPlayerBrowser method with a long second argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6847 represents a classic buffer overflow condition within the ActiveX control architecture of RealNetworks RealPlayer 10.5. This flaw exists in the ierpplug.dll component which serves as the Internet Explorer plugin interface for the media player application. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the RealPlayer.OpenURLInPlayerBrowser method is invoked with an excessively long second parameter, creating a condition where memory allocated for processing the URL argument exceeds its intended boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through Internet Explorer 7's ActiveX handling mechanism, where the malicious input triggers a memory corruption event that ultimately leads to application instability and system crash. When the second argument exceeds the allocated buffer size, the overflow corrupts the stack frame and can potentially overwrite critical execution pointers or return addresses, causing the browser to terminate unexpectedly. This vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with ActiveX controls in web browsers, where third-party components can directly manipulate the host application's memory space without proper input validation. The attack vector relies on social engineering to convince users to visit malicious websites that automatically invoke the vulnerable method through embedded script code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a significant security weakness that could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. While the immediate effect is a browser crash, the underlying buffer overflow condition creates opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges if proper memory protection mechanisms are not in place. The vulnerability affects users running Internet Explorer 7 with RealPlayer 10.5 installed, creating a substantial attack surface for malicious actors targeting this specific browser-plugin combination. From an enterprise security perspective, this vulnerability highlights the risks of outdated multimedia software and the dangers of executing untrusted ActiveX controls in web environments. The issue also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems through browser-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by RealNetworks, as well as implementing browser security measures to restrict ActiveX control execution. Organizations should disable ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer or configure them with restricted permissions to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious code. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts by monitoring for suspicious URL patterns or overly long parameter values. Additionally, security awareness training for users can reduce the likelihood of visiting malicious sites that exploit this vulnerability, while regular system patch management ensures that outdated software components are removed from the attack surface. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against legacy software vulnerabilities that continue to pose risks in modern computing environments.