CVE-2009-4210 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Indeo codec in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, and Server 2003 SP2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted media content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4210 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Indeo codec implementation across multiple Microsoft Windows operating systems including Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, and Windows Server 2003 SP2. This vulnerability resides in the multimedia subsystem where the Indeo codec processes compressed video data, creating a pathway for remote exploitation that can result in system instability and potential arbitrary code execution. The flaw specifically manifests when the codec encounters malformed or specially crafted media content that triggers improper memory handling during decompression operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the Indeo codec library. When processing maliciously crafted media files, the codec fails to properly bounds-check data structures or validate buffer sizes, leading to memory corruption conditions that can manifest as heap overflows or stack corruption. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service to include possible arbitrary code execution, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where users might unknowingly encounter malicious media content.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4210 is significant across enterprise and consumer environments that rely on Windows systems for multimedia processing. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or streaming media content, potentially compromising systems without requiring user interaction beyond viewing the malicious content. The vulnerability's presence in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003 platforms means that organizations with legacy systems remain at risk, particularly those that have not implemented proper patch management procedures. The memory corruption can lead to system crashes, application instability, and in some cases, complete system compromise, making this vulnerability a high-priority target for threat actors seeking persistent access to compromised systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches released in response to this vulnerability, which address the memory handling issues within the Indeo codec. Network segmentation and content filtering measures should be deployed to prevent unauthorized media content from reaching end-user systems, particularly in environments where legacy systems must continue operating. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory allocation patterns or system crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to block or quarantine suspicious media files. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which covers legitimate credentials and T1059, which addresses command and scripting interpreters, as attackers might leverage the compromised systems for further network penetration. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia codecs and implementing strict input validation policies for all media processing components, as similar issues can occur in third-party codec implementations that may not receive timely security updates.