CVE-2007-0712 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.1.5 allows remote user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted MIDI file.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0712 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in Apple QuickTime software versions prior to 7.1.5. This security weakness resides within the multimedia processing capabilities of the QuickTime framework, specifically affecting how the software handles MIDI file parsing operations. The vulnerability operates through a remote user-assisted attack vector, meaning that an attacker can exploit this flaw by convincing a user to open a maliciously crafted MIDI file, which then triggers the vulnerable code path within the QuickTime media processing engine.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper bounds checking during the parsing of MIDI file structures within the QuickTime framework. When the software encounters a specially constructed MIDI file with malformed or oversized data fields, it fails to validate the buffer sizes appropriately before copying data into heap-allocated memory regions. This insufficient input validation creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can overflow the allocated buffer space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations with controlled data. The vulnerability manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow, which according to CWE-122, represents a specific type of memory corruption vulnerability that occurs when a program writes more data to a heap-allocated buffer than it can hold.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable arbitrary code execution on affected systems. When exploited successfully, the buffer overflow can cause the QuickTime application to crash or behave unpredictably, but more critically, it may allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the running application. This represents a significant security risk as it could lead to complete system compromise, particularly when the vulnerable QuickTime component is used in web browsers or other applications that automatically process multimedia content. The attack requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a user-assisted remote attack rather than a fully autonomous exploit, but this still presents a substantial risk in environments where users frequently encounter multimedia content from untrusted sources.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Apple QuickTime version 7.1.5 or later, which includes patches addressing this heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability. System administrators should implement security measures to prevent users from accessing untrusted multimedia content and consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of vulnerable QuickTime components. The mitigation strategy should also include network-level controls such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. According to ATT&CK framework category T1203, this vulnerability could be leveraged for privilege escalation or lateral movement if successful exploitation occurs, making proper patch management and security monitoring essential components of the overall defense strategy. Additionally, security professionals should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability in network traffic and system logs, as the exploitation attempts may generate unusual patterns in QuickTime process behavior or memory allocation patterns.