CVE-2011-0245 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted pict file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0245 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple QuickTime media player software versions prior to 7.7. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of pict file format data, which is a proprietary image format used by Apple's QuickTime framework. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the QuickTime component responsible for parsing pict files, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input can overwrite adjacent memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of image data structures within the QuickTime player's image processing pipeline. When a maliciously constructed pict file is processed, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of the image data before attempting to load it into memory. This lack of bounds checking allows an attacker to supply input data that exceeds the allocated buffer size, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to redirect program execution flow. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires user interaction through opening a specially crafted file, making it a remote code execution vulnerability that can be delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage this buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Apple operating systems including macOS versions that shipped with QuickTime player versions prior to 7.7, creating a significant attack surface across enterprise and consumer environments. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the widespread use of QuickTime player and the ease with which malicious pict files can be distributed through common attack vectors such as phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
Organizations and users affected by CVE-2011-0245 should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Apple QuickTime 7.7 or later versions, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of QuickTime player unless absolutely necessary, along with network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious pict file traffic. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable QuickTime versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent future exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to remote code execution in multimedia processing applications. The attack pattern follows typical TTPs associated with file format vulnerabilities in multimedia applications, as documented in various ATT&CK framework categories related to execution and privilege escalation techniques.