CVE-2008-3629 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Apple QuickTime before 7.5.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted PICT image that triggers an out-of-bounds read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3629 represents a critical security flaw in Apple QuickTime multimedia framework versions prior to 7.5.5. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition that can be exploited remotely through the manipulation of PICT image files, which are part of the QuickTime file format ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically affects the image parsing functionality within QuickTime's handling of PICT format files, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted image data can trigger unexpected application behavior.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate bounds checking during the processing of PICT image data structures. When QuickTime encounters a crafted PICT file, the application fails to properly validate the boundaries of image data segments before attempting to read from memory locations beyond the allocated buffer space. This out-of-bounds read condition occurs during the parsing of image headers and data segments, where the software assumes certain data structures conform to expected formats without sufficient validation. The flaw is classified under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient checking of the length of input data, and more broadly under CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. This type of vulnerability represents a classic buffer over-read issue that can lead to application instability and potential exploitation for more severe attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it creates opportunities for attackers to disrupt legitimate QuickTime functionality across various platforms. Remote exploitation becomes possible when users encounter maliciously crafted PICT files through web browsers, email attachments, or file sharing systems that automatically process QuickTime content. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where QuickTime is widely deployed for multimedia content delivery. System administrators face challenges in protecting against this threat since the attack vector can be隐蔽 and difficult to detect through standard network monitoring tools, as the malicious content appears legitimate until execution triggers the out-of-bounds read condition. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through the manipulation of application input validation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3629 primarily focus on immediate software updates and deployment of Apple's security patches. Users and organizations must upgrade to QuickTime 7.5.5 or later versions that contain the necessary bounds checking improvements and input validation fixes. Network administrators should implement content filtering measures to prevent automatic processing of PICT files from untrusted sources, particularly in enterprise environments where QuickTime is not essential for core business operations. Additional protective measures include configuring web browsers to disable automatic QuickTime plugin execution and implementing sandboxing mechanisms that isolate QuickTime processing from core system resources. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify attempts to process malformed PICT files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia frameworks and highlights the need for regular security assessments of media processing components that handle external data inputs.