CVE-2011-2953 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
An unspecified ActiveX control in the browser plugin in RealNetworks RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1 and 14.0.0 through 14.0.5, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.1.5, and RealPlayer Enterprise 2.0 through 2.1.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, related to an out-of-bounds condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2953 represents a critical security flaw in RealNetworks RealPlayer software across multiple versions, specifically affecting ActiveX controls within browser plugins. This issue stems from an unspecified out-of-bounds condition that exists within the software's handling of certain data structures, creating a potential pathway for remote code execution attacks. The affected versions span across RealPlayer 11.0 through 11.1, 14.0.0 through 14.0.5, RealPlayer SP 1.0 through 1.1.5, and RealPlayer Enterprise 2.0 through 2.1.5, indicating a widespread impact across the product line. The out-of-bounds condition occurs within the ActiveX control implementation, which is designed to execute within web browser environments, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of buffer overflow conditions, which are commonly classified under CWE-121 as heap-based buffer overflow or CWE-125 as out-of-bounds read/write conditions. These flaws typically occur when software attempts to access memory locations beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers, allowing attackers to manipulate program execution flow. In the context of ActiveX controls, such vulnerabilities are particularly severe because they operate with elevated privileges within the browser environment, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the same privileges as the user running the browser. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple code paths within the ActiveX control could be exploited, making the vulnerability more difficult to patch comprehensively and increasing the attack surface.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2953 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where RealPlayer was commonly deployed. Organizations using these vulnerable versions of RealPlayer faced potential compromise of entire systems through web-based attacks, particularly in environments where users had administrative privileges or where the software was integrated into corporate workflows. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers could potentially install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors without requiring physical access to target systems. This threat was particularly concerning given that RealPlayer was widely used for multimedia content delivery, making it a common target for social engineering attacks that could lead to system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2953 primarily focused on immediate software updates and patches provided by RealNetworks, as well as operational security measures to reduce exposure. Organizations should have prioritized patch management to upgrade to versions that addressed the out-of-bounds condition in the ActiveX controls, with particular attention to the specific version ranges mentioned in the vulnerability description. Security teams were advised to disable ActiveX controls in browser environments where possible, particularly in enterprise settings where the risk of exploitation was highest. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1193, which describes the use of malicious files to execute code, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access and execute additional malicious payloads. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual outbound connections were also recommended as defensive measures to detect potential exploitation attempts.