CVE-2010-4387 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
The RealAudio codec in RealNetworks RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.1.4, Mac RealPlayer 11.0 through 12.0.0.1444, 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 crafted audio stream in a RealMedia file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4387 represents a critical heap memory corruption flaw within the RealAudio codec implementation across multiple RealNetworks RealPlayer versions. This issue affects Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, spanning from RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.1.4, Mac RealPlayer 11.0 through 12.0.0.1444, and Linux RealPlayer 11.0.2.1744. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the RealAudio decoding process, specifically when processing crafted audio streams contained within RealMedia files. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing malicious RealMedia files that, when opened by an affected RealPlayer version, trigger heap corruption through improper buffer handling during audio decoding operations.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2010-4387 occurs through a carefully crafted audio stream that manipulates memory allocation patterns within the RealPlayer application's heap memory space. When the vulnerable codec processes these malicious inputs, it fails to properly validate the size or structure of incoming audio data, leading to buffer overflows or underflows that corrupt adjacent heap memory regions. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution when the corrupted memory locations are subsequently accessed or when the application attempts to reallocate memory in the corrupted regions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a classic example of a remote code execution vulnerability that leverages media processing components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise potential. Attackers can leverage the heap corruption to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the RealPlayer process, potentially escalating privileges and gaining unauthorized access to affected systems. The vulnerability affects a broad range of RealPlayer versions, making it particularly dangerous as it impacts multiple platforms and versions that were widely distributed and used in enterprise and consumer environments. This widespread impact increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit vulnerable systems without requiring specialized targeting beyond the presence of affected RealPlayer installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4387 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches from RealNetworks, as the vendor would have released remediation measures to address the heap memory corruption issues. System administrators should implement network-level controls to block or filter RealMedia file types, particularly when these files originate from untrusted sources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for both application-level and network-level defenses. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for media processing applications, as well as regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in legacy software components. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening unknown media files and maintaining updated software versions remains crucial in defending against exploitation attempts targeting this and similar vulnerabilities.