CVE-2014-1246 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.7.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted ftab atom in a movie file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1246 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple QuickTime media player software affecting versions prior to 7.7.5. This security weakness resides in the processing logic for ftab atoms within movie files, which are essential components for storing metadata and structural information about multimedia content. The flaw enables remote attackers to craft malicious movie files that can trigger unpredictable behavior when processed by vulnerable QuickTime implementations. The vulnerability operates through a classic buffer overflow mechanism where insufficient input validation allows an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the QuickTime parser's handling of ftab atoms. When a maliciously crafted movie file containing oversized or malformed ftab data is processed, the application fails to properly validate the data length before attempting to copy or parse the information into fixed-size buffers. This fundamental flaw in input sanitization creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow or injecting malicious instructions. The vulnerability specifically affects the multimedia parsing engine that interprets movie file structures, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open media files from untrusted sources. This issue aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of unsafe memory operations in multimedia processing frameworks.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1246 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise through remote code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious movie files through various attack vectors including email attachments, compromised websites, or peer-to-peer networks. When victims open these crafted files with vulnerable QuickTime versions, the buffer overflow can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the application. This capability makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise environments where QuickTime is commonly installed. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to mobile platforms since QuickTime was widely used across iOS and macOS devices, potentially enabling attackers to gain persistent access to mobile devices or execute malicious payloads on desktop systems. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that QuickTime was often installed by default on many systems, increasing the likelihood of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1246 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. Apple addressed this vulnerability through the release of QuickTime 7.7.5, which included enhanced input validation and bounds checking for ftab atom processing. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of this security update across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where QuickTime is widely deployed. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file type filtering and content scanning for multimedia files, disabling QuickTime plugins in web browsers, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious file patterns. From an operational security perspective, regular security assessments should verify that all media processing applications have been updated and that legacy QuickTime installations have been removed from systems where they are not required. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia processing software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar flaws in media handling components. The attack pattern for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and represents a common vector for initial access through social engineering campaigns targeting media file attachments.