CVE-2007-3662 in Media Player Classic
Summary
by MITRE
Media Player Classic (MPC) 6.4.9.0 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted FLV file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2017
Media Player Classic version 6.4.9.0 contains a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that arises from inadequate input validation when processing specially crafted FLV (Flash Video) files. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where maliciously constructed input data exceeds the allocated buffer space and corrupts adjacent memory locations. The flaw occurs during the parsing of FLV file headers and metadata, specifically when the player attempts to read and process the video stream information without proper bounds checking on the input data length.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft malicious FLV files that trigger the buffer overflow condition when the Media Player Classic player attempts to parse these files. When the player encounters oversized or malformed data structures within the FLV file, it writes beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting critical memory segments including return addresses, function pointers, or stack canaries. This memory corruption can lead to two primary attack vectors: denial of service through application crashes or exploitation for arbitrary code execution by redirecting program execution flow to malicious payload code injected into the corrupted memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a significant security risk for users who may unknowingly download or receive malicious FLV files through various attack vectors including email attachments, compromised websites, or peer-to-peer file sharing networks. The vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems where Media Player Classic is installed, particularly Windows platforms where the player is commonly deployed. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the Media Player Classic application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of Media Player Classic to version 6.4.10.0 or later, which contains proper input validation and buffer size checks for FLV file processing. System administrators should implement network-based controls to block FLV file transfers from untrusted sources and deploy endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent execution of malicious media files. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening media files from unknown or untrusted sources, and organizations should maintain updated antivirus signatures that can detect known malicious FLV file patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on victim systems through media player exploitation, potentially leading to further lateral movement within compromised networks. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized media players or plugins that may be vulnerable to similar buffer overflow conditions.