CVE-2011-4250 in RealPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the ATRC codec in RealNetworks RealPlayer before 15.0.0 and Mac RealPlayer before 12.0.0.1703 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4250 represents a critical security flaw within the ATRC codec implementation of RealNetworks RealPlayer software across multiple platforms. This unspecified vulnerability affects both the Windows and Mac versions of the media player, with specific versions prior to 15.0.0 for Windows and 12.0.0.1703 for Mac systems. The ATRC codec, which stands for Advanced Technology RealAudio Codec, is responsible for decoding and playing various audio formats within the RealPlayer ecosystem, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to compromise systems through media playback.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the ATRC codec parser. When RealPlayer processes specially crafted media files containing malformed ATRC codec data, the application fails to properly validate the input parameters, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. These conditions create opportunities for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the running RealPlayer process. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack could occur through various methods including malicious file downloads, web-based exploitation, or even social engineering techniques that trick users into opening compromised media content.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise and individual users alike. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely means that attackers can potentially gain complete control over affected systems without requiring local access or user interaction beyond opening a malicious media file. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised RealPlayer process to execute malicious commands. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments. Organizations using older versions of RealPlayer face heightened risk of compromise, particularly in environments where users have the ability to download and execute arbitrary content.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4250 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by RealNetworks. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to RealPlayer versions 15.0.0 or later for Windows and 12.0.0.1703 or later for Mac systems, which contain the necessary fixes for the ATRC codec vulnerability. Additionally, network security measures such as content filtering and media file validation should be implemented to prevent the execution of untrusted media files. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-119, which addresses "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer," highlights the need for proper bounds checking and memory management practices. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block suspicious execution patterns associated with this type of vulnerability, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar codec-related vulnerabilities that may exist in other multimedia applications within the organization's attack surface.