CVE-2012-5451 in TVMOBiLi
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in HttpUtils.dll in TVMOBiLi before 2.1.0.3974 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (tvMobiliService service crash) via a long string in a (1) GET or (2) HEAD request to TCP port 30888.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5451 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in the HttpUtils.dll component of TVMOBiLi software versions prior to 2.1.0.3974. This flaw exists within the HTTP request handling mechanism of the tvMobiliService daemon that operates on TCP port 30888. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking when processing HTTP GET and HEAD requests, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. The affected software component fails to properly validate the length of incoming request strings, allowing maliciously crafted payloads to exceed allocated buffer boundaries and corrupt stack memory structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors where adversaries send specially crafted HTTP requests containing excessively long strings to the targeted service. When the HttpUtils.dll processes these malformed requests, the insufficient buffer size validation causes a stack overflow condition that ultimately leads to service termination. The buffer overflow manifests as a denial of service condition where the tvMobiliService crashes and becomes unavailable to legitimate users. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited without requiring authentication or elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible services. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that the corruption affects the program's execution flow and can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution if the overflow is carefully crafted.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5451 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system availability concerns and potential compromise of network infrastructure. Organizations relying on TVMOBiLi services for media streaming or content delivery face significant risk of service outages that can affect thousands of users simultaneously. The vulnerability affects systems where the tvMobiliService is exposed to untrusted networks, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such services might be inadvertently exposed to external threats. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, without requiring physical access or network proximity to the target system. This makes the vulnerability highly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt services or establish persistent access points within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5451 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 2.1.0.3974 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow conditions. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to TCP port 30888, limiting exposure to trusted networks only when immediate patching is not feasible. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of HTTP requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow classification and represents a typical example of how insufficient input validation leads to critical security flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network disruption and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Organizations should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar flaws in other network services and applications that may present similar attack surfaces.