CVE-2010-4377 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in RealNetworks RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.1.5, Mac RealPlayer 11.0 through 12.0.0.1444, and Linux RealPlayer 11.0.2.1744 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by specifying many subbands in cook audio codec information in a Real Audio file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4377 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of RealNetworks RealPlayer software across different operating systems. This security weakness resides within the audio processing subsystem of the media player, specifically in how it handles cook audio codec information within real audio files. The vulnerability affects RealPlayer versions 11.0 through 11.1, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.1.5, Mac RealPlayer 11.0 through 12.0.0.1444, and Linux RealPlayer 11.0.2.1744, creating a widespread attack surface that could potentially compromise numerous systems running these outdated media players.
The technical flaw manifests when the RealPlayer application processes real audio files containing excessively large numbers of subbands within the cook audio codec data structure. During normal operation, the media player allocates memory buffers to store audio data, but when an attacker crafts a malicious audio file with an excessive number of subbands, the application fails to properly validate the input data before processing. This insufficient input validation leads to a heap-based buffer overflow condition where data written beyond the allocated buffer boundaries overwrites adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the application's execution flow and allowing for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions in heap memory allocations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote code execution attacks that can be delivered through maliciously crafted real audio files. Attackers can exploit this weakness by embedding specially constructed audio files in web pages, email attachments, or file sharing networks, allowing them to remotely compromise systems running vulnerable versions of RealPlayer without requiring any user interaction beyond opening the malicious file. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter such files through various attack vectors, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack surface is further expanded by the widespread adoption of RealPlayer across different platforms, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to maximize their exploitation potential.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the attack framework, particularly those involving initial access through malicious media files and privilege escalation through code execution. From a defensive perspective, the primary mitigation strategy involves immediate patching and updating to versions of RealPlayer that address this specific buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network-based controls such as content filtering and web proxy configurations to block access to known malicious audio files. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted media files and maintaining updated software versions remains crucial. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia applications, emphasizing the need for robust software security engineering practices that prevent such memory corruption vulnerabilities from reaching production systems. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of known vulnerable applications until proper patches can be deployed across all affected systems.