CVE-2012-2442 in PC Suite Video Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Video Manager in Nokia PC Suite 7.1.180.64 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted mp4 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2442 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Video Manager component of Nokia PC Suite versions 7.1.180.64 and earlier. This security weakness exists in the handling of mp4 media files and demonstrates how multimedia processing components in desktop applications can become attack vectors for remote exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects the video management functionality that users employ to organize and transfer media content between their mobile devices and computers, making it particularly concerning for widespread use cases.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the Video Manager processes crafted mp4 files that contain malformed data structures or oversized buffers that exceed the allocated memory space. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of mp4 file headers and metadata, leading to memory corruption that can result in application crashes or potentially more severe system instability. The attack vector is classified as remote since malicious actors can deliver the crafted mp4 file through various network channels without requiring physical access to the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attack scenarios. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause the Nokia PC Suite application to terminate unexpectedly, rendering the video management functionality unusable for legitimate users while simultaneously creating opportunities for further exploitation. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can compromise systems simply by enticing users to open maliciously crafted mp4 files, which could be delivered through email attachments, malicious websites, or peer-to-peer networks. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter such malicious content during routine operations.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of how multimedia processing libraries and applications require robust input validation and memory management practices. The flaw demonstrates the importance of implementing proper bounds checking and memory allocation strategies when handling user-supplied data, particularly in applications that process complex media formats. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Nokia PC Suite installations and consider implementing additional security measures such as email filtering, web content restrictions, and user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted multimedia files. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments of desktop applications and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to protect against known exploits. Mitigation strategies should include network-level controls to prevent access to known malicious domains and file repositories, along with comprehensive endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block attempts to execute malicious code through media processing applications.