CVE-2008-5237 in xine
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in xine-lib 1.1.12, and other 1.1.15 and earlier versions, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via (1) crafted width and height values that are not validated by the mymng_process_header function in demux_mng.c before use in an allocation calculation or (2) crafted current_atom_size and string_size values processed by the parse_reference_atom function in demux_qt.c for an RDRF_ATOM string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5237 represents a critical security flaw affecting xine-lib versions 1.1.12 and earlier, including 1.1.15, which exposes applications relying on this multimedia library to potential remote exploitation. This vulnerability stems from integer overflow conditions that occur during the processing of multimedia file headers, specifically within the demux_mng.c and demux_qt.c modules. The flaw manifests when the library fails to properly validate dimensional parameters during the parsing of multimedia content, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory allocation calculations through crafted input data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors that exploit integer overflow conditions in different parts of the multimedia parsing logic. The first vector targets the mymng_process_header function in demux_mng.c where unvalidated width and height values are used in memory allocation calculations. When these parameters exceed the maximum representable integer values, the subsequent allocation operations fail catastrophically, leading to memory corruption that can result in application crashes or potentially arbitrary code execution. The second vector operates through the parse_reference_atom function in demux_qt.c, where crafted current_atom_size and string_size values specifically targeting RDRF_ATOM strings can trigger similar integer overflow conditions during memory allocation processes. Both attack scenarios leverage the fundamental weakness of insufficient input validation combined with improper integer overflow handling in memory management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution in vulnerable systems. When exploited successfully, these integer overflows can cause applications using xine-lib to crash unpredictably or, in more sophisticated attack scenarios, allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multimedia applications are frequently accessed by untrusted users or when the affected libraries are used in server applications processing user-uploaded content. The vulnerability affects systems running vulnerable versions of xine-lib across multiple operating systems including Linux distributions, BSD variants, and other Unix-like systems that utilize this multimedia framework.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote attackers to execute malicious code through client-side multimedia processing applications. The attack surface is particularly wide given that xine-lib serves as a foundational multimedia framework used by numerous applications including media players, web browsers with embedded multimedia support, and various multimedia processing tools. Organizations utilizing affected versions of xine-lib should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of input validation measures to prevent exploitation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to patched versions of xine-lib, implementing strict input validation for multimedia content parameters, and deploying network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable applications to untrusted networks or users.