CVE-2012-0668 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.7.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted movie file with RLE encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0668 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple QuickTime media player software versions prior to 7.7.2. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of RLE (Run-Length Encoding) compressed data within movie files, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system. The vulnerability resides in the media processing engine that interprets and decodes various compression formats used in QuickTime movie files, making it a prime target for exploitation in malicious payload delivery scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the decompression process of RLE encoded data streams. When QuickTime encounters a crafted movie file containing malformed RLE compression parameters, the software fails to properly validate the size and structure of the compressed data before attempting to decompress it into memory buffers. This lack of input validation allows attackers to craft malicious movie files that deliberately overflow the allocated memory buffers, causing unpredictable behavior and potentially enabling arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the level of the media decoder component and falls under CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient space is allocated for data, and specifically CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds writes in buffer management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems with the privileges of the user running QuickTime, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no local privileges to exploit and can be triggered through simple media file playback, making it ideal for phishing campaigns, malicious website content, or social engineering attacks. Additionally, the application crash resulting from the buffer overflow can be used for denial of service attacks against targeted systems or networks, disrupting legitimate media playback operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0668 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Apple addressed this vulnerability by releasing QuickTime 7.7.2, which includes enhanced bounds checking and improved input validation for RLE decompression routines. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of this security patch across all systems running vulnerable QuickTime versions. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict file type filtering for media content, disabling QuickTime playback for untrusted files, and employing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious RLE encoding patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1203 (Exploitation for Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter), as attackers can leverage the buffer overflow to execute malicious code and establish persistent access to compromised systems. Network administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for media processing and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation vectors.