CVE-2010-4392 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, RealPlayer Enterprise 2.1.2 and 2.1.3, Linux RealPlayer 11.0.2.1744, and possibly HelixPlayer 1.0.6 and other versions, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted ImageMap data in a RealMedia file, related to certain improper integer calculations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4392 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of RealNetworks RealPlayer software across different platforms including Windows, Linux, and enterprise deployments. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the handling of ImageMap data embedded within RealMedia files, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through media content delivery without requiring user interaction beyond opening the file. The flaw stems from improper integer calculations during the processing of ImageMap elements, which leads to insufficient bounds checking and allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions with malicious data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of memory management errors in RealPlayer's media processing engine where ImageMap data structures are parsed and allocated in heap memory. When the application encounters crafted ImageMap data containing oversized or malformed parameters, the integer overflow conditions cause the allocation of insufficient buffer space to accommodate the actual data being processed. This creates a situation where subsequent memory writes exceed the allocated buffer boundaries, enabling attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in memory management that has been extensively studied in cybersecurity literature and commonly referenced in ATT&CK framework under the technique of code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution capabilities to encompass potential system compromise and persistent access. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized control over systems running vulnerable RealPlayer versions, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The widespread adoption of RealPlayer across enterprise environments and consumer systems amplifies the risk, as the vulnerability affects not only individual users but also corporate networks where the software is commonly deployed for media playback. The exploitability of this vulnerability through network-delivered media content makes it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns, malicious website delivery, or social engineering attacks where users might unknowingly open compromised media files. Organizations using affected RealPlayer versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, especially in environments where users have the ability to open media files from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4392 should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by RealNetworks, as well as network-based protections to prevent the delivery of malicious media content. System administrators should implement strict access controls and user education programs to reduce exposure, while network security teams should deploy content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious media file content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping media player software updated and following security best practices for handling multimedia content from untrusted sources. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of RealPlayer or similar media players to trusted environments only, reducing the attack surface for exploitation of this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate any remaining instances of vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure.