CVE-2012-1776 in VLC Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in VideoLAN VLC media player before 2.0.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted Real RTSP stream.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1776 represents a critical security flaw in VideoLAN VLC media player version 2.0.1 and earlier, where multiple heap-based buffer overflows exist within the application's handling of Real RTSP streams. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow category, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a heap-allocated buffer, potentially leading to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw specifically manifests when VLC processes crafted Real Time Streaming Protocol streams, which are commonly used for streaming multimedia content over the internet.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper validation and handling of input data within VLC's RTSP stream parser. When a maliciously crafted RTSP stream is processed, the application fails to properly bounds-check buffer allocations, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This heap corruption can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes or more severely, the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running VLC. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because RTSP streams are commonly used in legitimate streaming scenarios, making it possible for attackers to exploit this flaw through social engineering or by hosting malicious content on compromised servers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users who may encounter malicious RTSP streams while browsing the internet or accessing streaming content from untrusted sources. The potential impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include full system compromise, as successful exploitation could allow remote attackers to execute malicious code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability affects a widely used media player, increasing the attack surface and making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit this flaw. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables remote code execution through media player exploitation.
The remediation for CVE-2012-1776 requires immediate patching of VLC media player installations to version 2.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap buffer overflow vulnerabilities. Users should also implement network-level protections such as firewall rules that block RTSP traffic from untrusted sources and employ network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious RTSP stream activity. Additionally, security awareness training for users to avoid opening suspicious media files or accessing untrusted streaming sources can help reduce the risk of exploitation. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized media player versions and regularly update all media player installations across the organization. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia applications, particularly those handling network streams from potentially malicious sources.