CVE-2007-4938 in MPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in libmpdemux/aviheader.c in MPlayer 1.0rc1 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a .avi file with certain large "indx truck size" and nEntriesInuse values, and a certain wLongsPerEntry value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4938 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the MPlayer media player software version 1.0rc1 and earlier. This flaw exists in the libmpdemux/aviheader.c component which processes audio video interleave file format headers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing malformed .avi files containing manipulated metadata values that trigger improper memory allocation calculations during file parsing operations. The issue arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking when handling the indx chunk structure within avi files, making it susceptible to exploitation through crafted malicious media files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of the "indx truck size" parameter alongside "nEntriesInuse" and "wLongsPerEntry" values within the avi file header structure. When these parameters contain excessively large values, the application calculates memory allocation sizes that exceed the intended buffer boundaries, leading to heap corruption. This heap-based overflow occurs because the software does not properly validate the mathematical operations used to determine buffer sizes based on user-provided input values. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and memory management errors, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent heap memory regions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution in certain environments. Attackers can craft malicious .avi files with carefully manipulated header values that, when processed by the vulnerable MPlayer version, cause the application to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the player. The vulnerability affects systems where MPlayer is used to process untrusted media files, making it particularly dangerous in web environments or when users download media content from unverified sources. The heap corruption can lead to unpredictable application behavior, including crashes, data corruption, or in worst-case scenarios, arbitrary code execution through controlled memory overwrite techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4938 include immediate upgrading to MPlayer version 1.0rc2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement strict media file validation procedures and avoid processing untrusted media content through vulnerable applications. Network security measures such as content filtering and sandboxing can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow category and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through media processing. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime application protection measures and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in multimedia processing components. The fix typically involves adding proper bounds checking and input validation for all parameters used in memory allocation calculations within the avi header parsing logic.