CVE-2013-1019 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.7.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted movie file with Sorenson encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1019 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple QuickTime media player software versions prior to 7.7.4. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of Sorenson-encoded movie files, which are commonly used in multimedia applications and digital content distribution. The vulnerability exists in the decoding process where the application fails to properly validate input data sizes before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the QuickTime player's Sorenson video codec processing module. When a specially crafted movie file containing maliciously constructed Sorenson encoded data is opened, the application attempts to copy data into insufficiently sized memory buffers without proper size validation. This buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a classic example of a remote code execution vulnerability that can be delivered through email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1019 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability affects a widely deployed media player application that was commonly installed on both personal computers and enterprise systems, amplifying the potential attack surface and impact. Organizations relying on QuickTime for multimedia content playback were particularly vulnerable, as the attack vector required minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it an attractive target for social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1019 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Apple released QuickTime 7.7.4 as a patch addressing this vulnerability, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation for Sorenson encoded video data. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment across all affected systems and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling QuickTime plugin support in web browsers, implementing application whitelisting policies, and configuring sandboxing environments to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical attack pattern categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia processing applications, particularly those handling complex codec decoding operations where malformed input can lead to severe security consequences.