CVE-2013-1015 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Apple QuickTime before 7.7.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted TeXML file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2021
Apple QuickTime versions prior to 7.7.4 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted TeXML files. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the QuickTime media processing engine, specifically when handling TeXML (Telecommunications eXtensible Markup Language) formatted content. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition where attacker-controlled data exceeds allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to stack corruption, heap corruption, or arbitrary code execution within the context of the QuickTime process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper parsing of TeXML elements within QuickTime's media handling components. When a malicious TeXML file is processed, the application fails to properly validate the size and structure of embedded data elements, allowing attackers to craft payloads that overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can be exploited to redirect program execution flow, inject malicious code, or cause application crashes that result in denial of service conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, both of which are fundamental weaknesses in memory management practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on QuickTime for media playback, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted content through email attachments, web downloads, or network shares. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious TeXML files through various attack vectors without requiring local access to target systems. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation scenarios where the compromised QuickTime process could leverage system-level permissions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, representing common attack paths for initial compromise and lateral movement.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patch deployment to update QuickTime to version 7.7.4 or later, which addresses the memory corruption issues through proper input validation and memory boundary checks. Organizations should implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent unauthorized TeXML file execution, particularly in high-risk environments. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious email attachments and untrusted web content can reduce successful exploitation attempts. System administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts through network intrusion detection systems and application logs, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other media processing components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of implementing principle of least privilege for media processing applications and regularly reviewing third-party software security updates to maintain comprehensive protection against similar memory corruption threats.