CVE-2010-1508 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.6.9 on Windows allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via crafted Track Header (aka tkhd) atoms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1508 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw in Apple QuickTime software versions prior to 7.6.9 on Windows operating systems. This vulnerability resides within the handling of Track Header atoms, commonly referred to as tkhd atoms, which are fundamental components of QuickTime media files used for storing track information including duration, dimensions, and transformation matrices. The flaw manifests when QuickTime processes malformed or crafted tkhd atoms that exceed the allocated memory buffer boundaries, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper input validation within the QuickTime media parser component that fails to adequately check the size and structure of Track Header atoms before attempting to parse and store their contents in heap memory. When a maliciously crafted tkhd atom is encountered, the parser allocates a fixed-size buffer to accommodate the track header data, but does not validate that the incoming atom data conforms to expected size limitations. This allows attackers to supply data that exceeds the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other control structures within the application's heap memory management.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to Windows users who may encounter malicious QuickTime media files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The remote execution capability means that attackers can potentially achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems, allowing them to install malware, establish backdoors, or escalate privileges. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged for denial of service attacks that cause application crashes and system instability, disrupting normal user operations and potentially enabling persistent availability attacks against targeted systems.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which classifies heap memory corruption issues where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory regions. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through compromised media file handling. The attack surface is particularly concerning given QuickTime's widespread deployment across Windows environments and its integration with various web browsers and email clients that may automatically process QuickTime content without user intervention.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1508 primarily focus on immediate software updates to Apple QuickTime 7.6.9 or later versions that contain patches addressing the buffer overflow in Track Header atom parsing. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Windows systems running QuickTime are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include configuring web browsers and email clients to disable automatic QuickTime content processing, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious QuickTime file transfers, and establishing user education programs to prevent accidental execution of potentially malicious media files. Organizations should also consider deploying application whitelisting solutions that restrict execution of untrusted QuickTime media files and implement memory protection mechanisms such as DEP and ASLR to reduce exploit reliability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing libraries, as even seemingly benign file format parsing can become a gateway for sophisticated exploitation techniques.