CVE-2008-1489 in VLC
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the MP4_ReadBox_rdrf function in libmp4.c for VLC 0.8.6e allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted MP4 RDRF box that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-0984.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1489 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the multimedia processing subsystem of VLC media player version 0.8.6e. This issue resides in the MP4_ReadBox_rdrf function located in the libmp4.c source file, which handles the parsing of MP4 container format files. The vulnerability specifically targets the RDRF box type within MP4 files, which is used to store reference data for media content. When a maliciously crafted MP4 file containing an oversized RDRF box is processed by VLC, the integer overflow condition occurs during the calculation of buffer sizes needed for memory allocation. This flaw falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow/underflow, where the improper handling of integer values during arithmetic operations leads to unexpected behavior in memory management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic heap-based buffer overflow scenario that can be leveraged for both denial of service and potential code execution. During normal operation, VLC's MP4 parser calculates the size of data to be read from the RDRF box and allocates corresponding memory buffers. However, when an attacker crafts an MP4 file with malformed RDRF box data that causes integer overflow, the calculated buffer size becomes significantly smaller than the actual data payload. This discrepancy results in insufficient memory allocation, causing the program to write beyond allocated buffer boundaries when processing the malformed data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through network-based file delivery mechanisms, making it a prime candidate for remote exploitation in web-based media streaming scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-1489 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. When the heap corruption occurs due to the buffer overflow, it can lead to unpredictable program behavior including segmentation faults, memory corruption, and in some cases, complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects all systems running VLC 0.8.6e and earlier versions, making it particularly concerning for widespread deployment scenarios. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious code. The remote nature of the attack vector means that users can be compromised simply by opening or playing the malicious MP4 file, without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond normal media playback.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by the VLC development team. The most effective solution involves upgrading to VLC version 0.8.6f or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate integer values and prevent the overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network-based filtering to block suspicious MP4 files, particularly those originating from untrusted sources. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed MP4 file structures and implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict media player execution to trusted environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia processing libraries, as outlined in industry best practices for secure coding standards. System administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for media processing applications to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.