CVE-2011-0252 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 STTS atoms in a QuickTime movie file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0252 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime media player software versions prior to 7.7. This flaw exists within the parsing mechanism of STTS atoms, which are essential components of QuickTime movie files that store time-to-sample mapping information for audio and video streams. The vulnerability specifically affects how QuickTime processes these atoms when they contain malformed or crafted data, creating conditions where memory allocation becomes compromised and arbitrary code execution becomes possible.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of STTS atom structures within QuickTime movie files. When a maliciously crafted STTS atom is encountered, the QuickTime player fails to properly validate the size and content of the atom data before attempting to allocate heap memory for processing. This inadequate validation allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap, potentially leading to stack corruption or memory pointer manipulation that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running QuickTime process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to end users who may encounter malicious QuickTime movie files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require local system access to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks or mass distribution campaigns. The potential impact includes complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or denial of service conditions that can disrupt business operations and user productivity. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how multimedia processing libraries can become attack surfaces when proper input validation is absent.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting a malicious QuickTime movie file containing specially constructed STTS atoms that exceed expected memory boundaries when processed by vulnerable QuickTime versions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain remote code execution capabilities, potentially leading to full system compromise depending on the target environment and user privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia processing components can serve as attack vectors in modern computing environments, particularly when legacy software continues to be used without proper security updates. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including software updates, network-based restrictions on QuickTime file types, and user education about avoiding untrusted media content. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles for malware delivery through multimedia formats and emphasizes the need for robust input validation across all media processing components to prevent similar heap-based buffer overflow conditions in future implementations.