CVE-2009-0387 in Good Plug-ins
Summary
by MITRE
Array index error in the qtdemux_parse_samples function in gst/qtdemux/qtdemux.c in GStreamer Good Plug-ins (aka gst-plugins-good) 0.10.9 through 0.10.11 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted Sync Sample (aka stss) atom data in a malformed QuickTime media .mov file, related to "mark keyframes."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0387 represents a critical array index error within the GStreamer multimedia framework's QuickTime demultiplexer component. This flaw exists in the qtdemux_parse_samples function located in gst/qtdemux/qtdemux.c within the gst-plugins-good package version 0.10.9 through 0.10.11. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of Sync Sample (stss) atom data within malformed QuickTime media files with .mov extension, where the stss atom contains information about keyframes that mark important points in video streams.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking when processing the stss atom data structure. When a maliciously crafted QuickTime file contains malformed stss atom information, the qtdemux_parse_samples function attempts to access array elements using indices derived from the corrupted data without proper validation. This array index error creates a potential for buffer overread conditions that can lead to unpredictable memory access patterns and system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems processing multimedia content through GStreamer-based applications. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw by preparing specially crafted QuickTime media files that contain malformed stss atom data, potentially causing application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability's classification as potentially allowing arbitrary code execution indicates that successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain control over affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multimedia processing is common.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can lead to complete system compromise when arbitrary code execution is achieved. This represents a serious security concern for media processing servers, content delivery networks, and any systems that handle untrusted multimedia content through GStreamer components. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications that rely on GStreamer for multimedia processing, including web browsers, media players, and content management systems.
According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129: "Improper Validation of Array Index," which specifically addresses the lack of proper bounds checking in array access operations. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution" or potentially T1059: "Command and Scripting Interpreter" if arbitrary code execution is achieved through the exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign multimedia processing operations can become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected GStreamer components to version 0.10.12 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the array index validation issues. Organizations should also implement strict file format validation and sanitization processes for all incoming multimedia content, particularly when processing untrusted files through GStreamer-based applications. Network-level filtering to prevent the transmission of suspicious QuickTime media files can provide additional protection layers. System administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain updated security information feeds to stay informed about related vulnerabilities in multimedia processing frameworks.
The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in multimedia processing libraries, where malformed file structures can lead to serious security consequences. This particular flaw demonstrates how the absence of proper bounds checking in array operations within multimedia parsers can create exploitable conditions that extend far beyond simple application crashes into potential system compromise scenarios. The widespread adoption of GStreamer across various multimedia applications makes this vulnerability particularly significant for overall security posture management in media processing environments.