CVE-2007-2723 in Media Player Classic
Summary
by MITRE
Media Player Classic 6.4.9.0 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (web browser crash) via an "empty" .MPA file, which triggers a divide-by-zero error.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2017
Media Player Classic 6.4.9.0 contains a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that manifests as a divide-by-zero error when processing malformed .MPA audio files. This vulnerability resides in the media player's audio decoding routine where it fails to properly validate input parameters before performing arithmetic operations. The flaw specifically occurs when the application encounters an "empty" .MPA file that lacks proper header information or valid audio data structures, causing the decoder to attempt division by zero during frame processing. This type of error represents a classic software bug that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt normal application functionality, making it particularly dangerous in environments where media players are automatically launched or integrated into web browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates poor error handling practices within the Media Player Classic codebase, where the application does not implement proper bounds checking or input sanitization before executing mathematical operations. When the player attempts to parse an empty .MPA file, the audio frame header parsing logic fails to account for edge cases where audio data is absent or malformed, resulting in a division operation where the denominator becomes zero. This condition triggers an unhandled exception that causes the application to terminate abruptly, leading to a denial of service condition. The vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-369, which addresses divide-by-zero errors in software implementations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be leveraged in broader attack scenarios targeting user systems through web-based delivery mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious websites or email attachments containing specially crafted empty .MPA files that, when opened by vulnerable Media Player Classic installations, will trigger the divide-by-zero error and cause browser or application crashes. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where users may encounter untrusted media content through web browsing or email systems, as it provides a straightforward method for conducting denial of service attacks against targeted systems. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizations that rely on Media Player Classic for media playback, potentially disrupting business operations and creating security concerns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Media Player Classic application to version 6.4.10.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and error handling for audio file parsing. System administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable media players in enterprise environments, while also deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious .MPA file delivery attempts. Users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted media files and encouraged to keep their media player software updated. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through web traffic analysis and implement sandboxing techniques for media file processing to prevent the divide-by-zero error from affecting system stability. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in multimedia processing applications, as outlined in security best practices and standards such as those defined by the Open Web Application Security Project.