CVE-2011-3250 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.7.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted movie file with JPEG2000 encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3250 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Apple QuickTime media player software versions prior to 7.7.1. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of JPEG2000 encoded movie files, creating a pathway for remote attackers to compromise systems through maliciously crafted media content. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during the processing of JPEG2000 image data structures, where the software fails to properly validate integer values during memory allocation operations. This flaw falls under the CWE-190 category of integer overflow, which occurs when an application performs arithmetic operations on integer values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type, leading to unexpected behavior and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the QuickTime player's JPEG2000 decoder failing to validate the dimensions and memory requirements of encoded image data. When processing a specially crafted movie file containing malformed JPEG2000 data, the application calculates memory allocation sizes using integer arithmetic that can overflow, resulting in insufficient memory allocation or incorrect buffer boundaries. This overflow condition can be exploited by attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of the QuickTime application. The vulnerability operates through the standard media playback pipeline where QuickTime attempts to decode and render JPEG2000 encoded content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by opening or previewing a malicious file.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3250 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass full system compromise potential. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, installing malware, or establishing persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly wide given QuickTime's widespread deployment across various operating systems including macOS and Windows platforms. Additionally, the vulnerability can be weaponized for denial of service attacks, where attackers can cause application crashes and system instability without necessarily gaining code execution privileges. This makes the vulnerability attractive for both targeted attacks against specific organizations and broader malware distribution campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3250 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Apple released QuickTime 7.7.1 and subsequent versions that addressed this vulnerability through proper integer overflow checks and enhanced input validation mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all systems running vulnerable QuickTime versions, as the vulnerability remains exploitable in unpatched environments. Network-level mitigations include implementing content filtering for JPEG2000 media files and restricting access to potentially malicious media content through email gateways and web proxies. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious QuickTime process behavior and memory allocation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through compromised applications and privilege escalation through code injection, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in multimedia processing libraries, emphasizing the need for proper input validation and integer overflow protection in all software components handling user-supplied data.