CVE-2007-5045 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Argument injection vulnerability in Apple QuickTime 7.1.5 and earlier, when running on systems with Mozilla Firefox before 2.0.0.7 installed, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a QuickTime Media Link (QTL) file with an embed XML element and a qtnext parameter containing the Firefox "-chrome" argument. NOTE: this is a related issue to CVE-2006-4965 and the result of an incomplete fix for CVE-2007-3670.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5045 represents a critical argument injection flaw that emerged in Apple QuickTime software versions 7.1.5 and earlier. This security weakness specifically manifests when QuickTime operates in conjunction with Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 2.0.0.7, creating a dangerous attack surface that enables remote code execution. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the QuickTime Media Link (QTL) file processing mechanism, where the software fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into system commands.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted QTL file that contains an embed XML element with a qtnext parameter. When Firefox processes this parameter, it interprets the "-chrome" argument as a legitimate command-line directive, which then gets passed to the underlying system shell. This creates a classic command injection scenario where attacker-controlled input is executed with the privileges of the user running Firefox. The flaw is particularly insidious because it leverages the trust relationship between QuickTime and Firefox, allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary commands on vulnerable systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments where users may unknowingly download and open malicious QTL files from untrusted sources. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond opening a specially crafted file, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or social engineering attacks. Systems running vulnerable versions of both QuickTime and Firefox become immediately compromised, potentially allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2006-4965 and its connection to the incomplete fix for CVE-2007-3670 demonstrates how security patches can sometimes create new attack vectors if not thoroughly tested across all affected components.
The underlying cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-80, which addresses improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the browser environment. The attack chain typically involves delivering a malicious QTL file through web-based delivery methods, leveraging the browser's handling of embedded media elements, and ultimately executing arbitrary code on the target system. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of both QuickTime and Firefox, implementing network-based restrictions on QTL file handling, and deploying security solutions that can detect and block malicious embed elements in web content.