CVE-2011-10022 in SPlayer
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
SPlayer version 3.7 and earlier is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow when processing HTTP responses containing an overly long Content-Type header. The vulnerability occurs due to improper bounds checking on the header value, allowing an attacker to overwrite the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) and execute arbitrary code. Exploitation requires the victim to open a media file that triggers an HTTP request to a malicious server, which responds with a crafted Content-Type header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-10022 affects SPlayer version 3.7 and earlier, representing a critical stack-based buffer overflow condition that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the media player's HTTP response processing logic. This flaw resides in the application's handling of HTTP headers, specifically targeting the Content-Type header field where insufficient bounds checking allows for excessive data input that overflows the allocated stack buffer. The vulnerability manifests when the player encounters a malicious HTTP response containing an abnormally long Content-Type header value, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the manipulation of the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) chain, which serves as a critical component in windows-based application error handling mechanisms. When the buffer overflow occurs, the attacker can overwrite the SEH frame pointer with malicious code addresses, effectively redirecting the program's execution flow to arbitrary code segments. This technique represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow exploitation method that has been documented in various security frameworks including the CWE-121 category for stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The attack vector requires a specific user interaction pattern where the victim must open a media file that triggers an HTTP request to a malicious server, making this vulnerability particularly challenging to exploit in the wild but still highly dangerous when successful.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can potentially allow attackers to achieve complete system compromise through privilege escalation or lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's requirement for user interaction through media file opening creates a social engineering component that can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, compromised media libraries, or phishing campaigns targeting users who frequently access online media content. Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation technique when combined with other exploitation methods, and as a remote code execution capability that can be used to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-10022 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by the vendor to address the buffer overflow condition in the HTTP header processing component. System administrators should prioritize updating SPlayer installations to versions that include proper bounds checking mechanisms and input validation routines that prevent excessive data from overwriting stack memory regions. Network-level defenses should include monitoring for suspicious HTTP responses containing unusually long Content-Type headers, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and block potentially malicious media file downloads from untrusted sources. Additionally, security awareness training for end users regarding the dangers of opening media files from unknown or untrusted sources remains crucial in preventing exploitation of this vulnerability through social engineering attacks that leverage the user interaction requirements of the flaw.