CVE-2007-6262 in VLC Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
A certain ActiveX control in axvlc.dll in VideoLAN VLC 0.8.6 before 0.8.6d allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted arguments to the (1) addTarget, (2) getVariable, or (3) setVariable function, resulting from a "bad initialized pointer," aka a "recursive plugin release vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6262 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the VideoLAN VLC media player version 0.8.6 and earlier. This security issue affects the axvlc.dll ActiveX control which is commonly used in web browsers to enable multimedia playback functionality. The vulnerability specifically targets three functions within the ActiveX control: addTarget, getVariable, and setVariable, all of which can be exploited through maliciously crafted arguments that trigger a dangerous pointer initialization condition. The flaw stems from what is known as a "bad initialized pointer" condition that creates a recursive plugin release vulnerability, allowing attackers to manipulate the memory state of the affected application.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of software memory management and web browser security, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The recursive plugin release mechanism occurs when the ActiveX control fails to properly initialize memory pointers during function calls, leading to a situation where subsequent function calls can overwrite critical memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests differently due to the ActiveX control's memory management structure. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specific argument sequences that cause the ActiveX control to release plugin resources in a recursive manner, ultimately allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to gain complete control over affected systems without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The vulnerability affects systems where VLC media player is installed with the ActiveX control enabled, particularly in corporate environments where browsers are configured to automatically execute ActiveX controls. The recursive nature of the plugin release vulnerability means that attackers can potentially cause multiple memory corruption events, increasing the reliability of exploitation and allowing for more sophisticated attack payloads. This vulnerability directly maps to the attack technique described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage client-side vulnerabilities to execute malicious code.
Security mitigations for CVE-2007-6262 primarily focus on updating to VLC version 0.8.6d or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the pointer initialization flaw. System administrators should also consider disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers or implementing browser security policies that restrict ActiveX execution. Additionally, network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for patterns associated with exploitation attempts of this vulnerability. The fix implemented by VideoLAN developers addresses the core memory management issue by ensuring proper pointer initialization and preventing the recursive plugin release conditions that led to the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement regular software update policies and maintain current security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting their systems, as this type of memory corruption vulnerability remains a common attack vector in client-side exploitation scenarios.