CVE-2011-0249 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via crafted STSC atoms in a QuickTime movie file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0249 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within Apple QuickTime media player software versions prior to 7.7. This flaw resides in the handling of STSC atoms within QuickTime movie files, which are used to store sample table information that maps sample numbers to their respective data locations within the media stream. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking when processing these specific atom structures, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap allocation space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of QuickTime's atom parsing logic specifically for STSC (Sample Table) atoms which contain indexing information for media samples. When a maliciously crafted QuickTime movie file is processed by the vulnerable software, the application fails to properly validate the size or contents of the STSC atom structure before attempting to copy data into heap-allocated buffers. This improper validation allows an attacker to supply oversized data that exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution or system instability.
From an operational perspective this vulnerability presents significant risk to end users who may encounter malicious QuickTime content through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require local system access to deliver payloads, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open compromised media files. The potential impact includes complete system compromise through code execution, denial of service conditions causing application crashes, and possible privilege escalation depending on the execution context of the vulnerable QuickTime process.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, and maps to attack techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control execution and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. Security professionals should implement immediate patch management procedures to upgrade to QuickTime 7.7 or later versions that contain the necessary memory validation fixes. Additional mitigations include implementing strict file type filtering for media content, disabling QuickTime plugin execution in web browsers, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious atom structures. Organizations should also consider endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious QuickTime content before it can be processed by the vulnerable software components, ensuring comprehensive defense against this and similar media processing vulnerabilities.