CVE-2008-5241 in xine-lib
Summary
by MITRE
Integer underflow in demux_qt.c in xine-lib 1.1.12, and other 1.1.15 and earlier versions, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted media file that results in a small value of moov_atom_size in a compressed MOV (aka CMOV_ATOM).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5241 represents a critical integer underflow condition within the xine-lib multimedia library version 1.1.12 and earlier releases including 1.1.15. This flaw exists in the demux_qt.c component responsible for handling QuickTime media file formats, specifically when processing compressed MOV files containing CMOV_ATOM structures. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and arithmetic handling when processing the moov_atom_size parameter within the media file structure, creating a scenario where normal integer operations result in unexpectedly small or negative values that can cause memory corruption or application instability.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a specially designed media file that manipulates the moov_atom_size field within a CMOV_ATOM structure to trigger an integer underflow condition. This underflow results in the allocation of insufficient memory buffers or incorrect loop iterations when the xine-lib library attempts to parse and process the malformed media file. The flaw falls under the CWE-191 Integer Underflow (Wrap) category, which specifically addresses situations where integer arithmetic operations produce values that are smaller than the minimum representable value for the data type, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial of service risk for any system running xine-lib versions 1.1.12 through 1.1.15, including applications that rely on this library for multimedia playback functionality. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially affecting broader system stability, particularly in environments where multimedia content is frequently processed or streamed. The vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, as it enables remote attackers to disrupt service availability by triggering crashes in multimedia processing components.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate software updates to versions of xine-lib that have addressed the integer underflow condition through proper input validation and arithmetic bounds checking. System administrators should prioritize patching affected installations and consider implementing content filtering mechanisms that prevent processing of untrusted media files. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed media file patterns and implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable systems can provide additional defensive layers against exploitation attempts.