CVE-2007-0713 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 QuickTime movie file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0713 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within Apple QuickTime software versions prior to 7.1.5. This flaw exists in the multimedia processing component responsible for handling QuickTime movie files, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited through remote user-assisted attack vectors. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the QuickTime player's file parsing routines, specifically when processing malformed movie file structures. Attackers can craft malicious QuickTime movie files that trigger the buffer overflow condition during normal playback operations, leading to system instability and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper memory allocation and bounds checking mechanisms within the QuickTime media handler. When a vulnerable QuickTime player encounters a specially crafted movie file, the application attempts to copy data into a heap-allocated buffer without sufficient validation of the source data length relative to the destination buffer size. This classic heap overflow condition occurs because the software does not properly verify the dimensions or content of the movie file headers and metadata structures before attempting to process them. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be leveraged to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate program execution flow through controlled data injection.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for end users and organizations relying on QuickTime for multimedia content consumption. The remote user-assisted nature of the attack means that victims can be compromised simply by opening or previewing malicious QuickTime files, which can be delivered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The potential for arbitrary code execution makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to gain full system control, install malware, or establish persistent access to affected systems. Additionally, the denial of service aspect ensures that legitimate users cannot access valid QuickTime content, creating both availability and security concerns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-0713 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Apple addressed this vulnerability through the release of QuickTime 7.1.5, which includes enhanced input validation and memory management protections. Organizations should implement immediate patch management protocols to deploy the updated QuickTime software across all affected systems. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering measures to block suspicious QuickTime files and monitor for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a typical example of how multimedia processing components can become attack surfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through malicious files and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the overflow to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and disabling QuickTime playback for untrusted content to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts.