CVE-2007-0715 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 PICT file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0715 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within Apple QuickTime software versions prior to 7.1.5. This flaw exists in the handling of PICT (Picture) image files, which are commonly used within the QuickTime multimedia framework for storing raster graphics and vector graphics data. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the affected QuickTime component processes malformed PICT files that contain oversized or improperly structured data within their headers or data segments. The buffer overflow occurs in the heap memory management system where the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions and leading to unpredictable behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious PICT file that triggers the buffer overflow condition when opened by an affected QuickTime version. The attack is classified as user-assisted because the victim must actively open or interact with the malicious file for the exploit to succeed. However, the remote nature of the attack means that the malicious file could be delivered through various vectors such as email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling arbitrary code execution, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter untrusted content. The heap corruption can lead to application crashes, system instability, or in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the QuickTime process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on QuickTime for multimedia content delivery, especially in environments where users might encounter untrusted PICT files from external sources. The vulnerability affects a widely deployed multimedia framework that was commonly used across various Apple operating systems including Mac OS X and iOS devices. The potential for remote code execution makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers targeting enterprise networks, as successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability also impacts web-based applications that embed QuickTime content, creating additional attack surface where users might inadvertently trigger the exploit through web browsing activities.
The technical flaw aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows writing beyond allocated heap memory regions. This vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia processing libraries can become attack vectors when they fail to properly validate input data structures, particularly in legacy code that may not have undergone comprehensive security review. The exploitability characteristics of this vulnerability also relate to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" where attackers leverage vulnerabilities in software applications to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and content filtering to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious PICT files, while also ensuring that QuickTime software is updated to version 7.1.5 or later to remediate the heap overflow condition. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted multimedia files remains critical in preventing successful exploitation of this vulnerability through social engineering attacks.