CVE-2010-2999 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in RealNetworks RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.0.1, Mac RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1, and Linux RealPlayer 11.0.2.1744 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) via a malformed MLLT atom in an AAC file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2999 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of RealNetworks RealPlayer software across different operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacts RealPlayer versions 11.0 through 11.1, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.0.1, Mac RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1, and Linux RealPlayer 11.0.2.1744, making it a widespread issue that could affect users across various platforms. The flaw occurs within the handling of malformed MLLT atoms in AAC audio files, which are commonly used in multimedia applications and streaming services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic overflow handling within the RealPlayer media processing engine. When the software encounters a malformed MLLT atom within an AAC file, the integer overflow condition causes heap memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in software design that can lead to serious security implications. The overflow occurs during the parsing of media metadata, where the application fails to properly validate the size parameters of the MLLT atom before attempting to allocate memory for processing.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who frequently download or stream media content from untrusted sources. Attackers can craft specially designed AAC files containing malformed MLLT atoms that trigger the integer overflow when opened by vulnerable RealPlayer versions. The exploitation potential includes both remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain full system control and denial of service conditions that would prevent legitimate media playback. The attack surface extends beyond individual user systems to potentially affect corporate networks where RealPlayer is widely deployed, particularly in environments with limited security controls or outdated software management practices.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution and T1499 for Endpoint Denial of Service, demonstrating how media player vulnerabilities can serve as entry points for broader attack campaigns. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory software updates, network-based restrictions on media file downloads from untrusted sources, and endpoint security controls to prevent execution of potentially malicious media files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia processing applications, as well as the need for regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to protect against similar issues in legacy software systems. Security teams must also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious media file handling activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.