CVE-2010-0480 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the MPEG Layer-3 audio codecs in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2, and Server 2008 Gold and SP2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted AVI file, aka "MPEG Layer-3 Audio Decoder Stack Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0480 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting MPEG Layer-3 audio codecs in multiple Microsoft Windows operating systems including Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2, as well as Server 2008 Gold and SP2. This flaw resides within the audio decoding components that process AVI files containing specially crafted MPEG Layer-3 audio streams, creating a significant attack surface for remote code execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious AVI file containing malformed MPEG Layer-3 audio data is processed by the affected Windows systems. The audio decoder fails to properly validate input parameters before copying data to fixed-size buffers on the stack, allowing attackers to overflow these buffers and overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical stack data. This type of vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code, and specifically aligns with T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The attack vector requires only that a user or system processes the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous in automated environments where media files are automatically handled.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities across a wide range of Windows platforms. The affected systems span multiple service packs and operating system versions, indicating a widespread exposure that would have required extensive patch management efforts to remediate. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's presence in Windows 2000 and XP systems, which were still widely deployed in enterprise environments, created a particularly severe risk profile. Organizations running these older systems faced significant exposure since Microsoft had already ended support for many of these platforms, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation without official patches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0480 primarily involve immediate patch deployment from Microsoft, specifically addressing the Windows Media Player and related audio codec components. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable systems and disable automatic media file processing where possible. Security controls should include monitoring for suspicious AVI file handling activities and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted media files. The vulnerability's classification as a stack overflow makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) techniques, which attackers might use to bypass modern exploit mitigations. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying patterns associated with AVI file processing and buffer overflow exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar codec-based vulnerabilities in other multimedia components.