CVE-2015-3666 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
QT Media Foundation in Apple QuickTime before 7.7.7, as used in OS X before 10.10.4 and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3661, CVE-2015-3662, CVE-2015-3663, CVE-2015-3667, and CVE-2015-3668.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3666 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple QuickTime's QT Media Foundation component that affected multiple operating systems including OS X versions prior to 10.10.4. This vulnerability resides in the media processing framework that handles various multimedia file formats and presents a significant security risk due to its potential for remote code execution. The flaw specifically manifests when the affected QuickTime component processes maliciously crafted media files, creating conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system denial of service. The vulnerability operates at the core level of media handling within Apple's ecosystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through routine media file processing activities.
Technical analysis reveals that this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the QT Media Foundation module, which is part of the broader QuickTime multimedia framework. The flaw occurs during the parsing and processing of specially crafted media files that exploit buffer overflow conditions or other memory corruption patterns. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and CWE-125, which covers "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions. The attack vector leverages remote file execution through network-based delivery mechanisms, where an attacker can craft malicious media files that when opened by a vulnerable QuickTime component, trigger the memory corruption. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be exploited through various media file formats that QuickTime supports, including but not limited to video and audio files.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3666 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the affected QuickTime application, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur without user interaction in certain scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for automated attacks. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability poses significant risk as it can be used to establish persistent access points, conduct data exfiltration, or deploy additional malware payloads. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Apple products including desktop operating systems, mobile platforms, and potentially server environments that utilize QuickTime for media processing. Organizations running affected versions of macOS and QuickTime software face elevated risk of targeted attacks that could result in unauthorized access, data breaches, or system-wide compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3666 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective approach involves installing Apple's official security patches that address the memory corruption issues within the QT Media Foundation component. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected endpoints, particularly those handling untrusted media content. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based security controls such as content filtering systems that can detect and block suspicious media file types, disabling QuickTime plugin support in web browsers, and employing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted media processing components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and persistent threat capabilities, making it a critical target for defensive measures. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit lateral movement if exploitation occurs, and implement comprehensive monitoring for unusual media file processing activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date media processing components and demonstrates how legacy multimedia frameworks can present significant security risks when not properly maintained.