CVE-2012-10031 in HDTV Player Pro
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2025
BlazeVideo HDTV Player Pro v6.6.0.3 is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow due to improper handling of user-supplied input embedded in .plf playlist files. When parsing a crafted .plf file, the MediaPlayerCtrl.dll component invokes PathFindFileNameA() to extract a filename from a URL-like string. The returned value is then copied to a fixed-size stack buffer using an inline strcpy call without bounds checking. If the input exceeds the buffer size, this leads to a stack overflow and potential arbitrary code execution under the context of the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-10031 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within BlazeVideo HDTV Player Pro version 6.6.0.3 that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms. This security weakness specifically manifests when the application processes maliciously crafted .plf playlist files, which are commonly used to store media playback configurations and metadata. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the core of multimedia player functionality where user interaction with potentially untrusted content is routine. The flaw resides in the MediaPlayerCtrl.dll component which serves as the primary interface for handling various media file operations including playlist management and file path resolution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific code path that involves the PathFindFileNameA() Windows API function, which is designed to extract filenames from complete file paths or URL-like strings. When a malicious .plf file contains a specially crafted URL string that exceeds the predetermined buffer limits, the application's handling of this data becomes problematic. The implementation directly copies the extracted filename string to a fixed-size stack buffer using an inline strcpy function call, which lacks any bounds checking mechanisms. This fundamental programming error creates an exploitable condition where the stack buffer can be overwritten beyond its allocated boundaries, leading to unpredictable memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified as a classic stack buffer overflow with a CWE-121 identifier, representing a well-documented weakness in memory management practices that has been consistently flagged in security assessments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it provides potential attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This arbitrary code execution scenario can be leveraged to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to privilege escalation, data theft, system compromise, and persistent backdoor installation. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince users to open maliciously crafted .plf files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter such files through email attachments, instant messaging, or web downloads. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a .plf file with an oversized filename string that triggers the buffer overflow condition during playlist parsing, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite return addresses and function pointers on the stack. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to run malicious commands within the victim's session context.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-10031 should encompass both immediate and long-term security measures to protect affected systems. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to newer versions of BlazeVideo HDTV Player Pro that address this specific buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement defensive programming practices such as enabling stack canaries, using address space layout randomization, and implementing heap-based buffer overflow protections. Additionally, security administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted media players or plugins, and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a prime example of why input validation and bounds checking are fundamental security requirements in software development, particularly for applications that process user-supplied data from external sources such as playlist files. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other multimedia applications and ensure proper implementation of secure coding practices throughout the software development lifecycle.