CVE-2015-3668 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-2015-3666, and CVE-2015-3667.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-3668 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple QuickTime's QT Media Foundation component that affects multiple operating systems including OS X versions prior to 10.10.4 and various other products. This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution flaws that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious media files designed to trigger memory corruption when processed by the affected QuickTime components. The flaw specifically resides in how the QT Media Foundation handles certain file formats, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code or cause system instability through crafted media content. The vulnerability is distinct from several other related issues including CVE-2015-3661 through CVE-2015-3667, indicating it represents a unique attack vector within the QuickTime media processing stack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory handling within the QuickTime media framework where crafted media files can trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions when the QT Media Foundation attempts to parse and process these malicious inputs. The flaw typically manifests when the affected system attempts to decode or render specially crafted media content that contains malformed data structures or unexpected parameter values. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution when the corrupted memory locations are subsequently accessed by the application or system processes. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various delivery methods including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious media content hosted on compromised websites.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3668 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include full system compromise capabilities that can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user or system process. This vulnerability affects systems where QuickTime is installed and active, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where media processing is common. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to target systems, allowing for widespread compromise through web-based or network-based attacks. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Apple's operating systems and products, creating a broad attack surface that requires immediate attention from system administrators and security teams. Organizations running affected versions of OS X or other products containing vulnerable QuickTime components face significant risk of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or system control by threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems with the latest QuickTime updates from Apple, specifically version 7.7.7 or later which addresses this memory corruption issue. System administrators should implement network-based controls including firewall rules and content filtering to prevent access to known malicious media files or suspicious web content. The implementation of application whitelisting policies can help reduce the risk by limiting which media applications can be executed on systems. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual media processing activities or attempts to access vulnerable QuickTime components. Organizations should also consider disabling QuickTime plugins in web browsers where possible and implementing regular vulnerability scanning to identify any remaining affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation can lead to command execution capabilities. Additionally, the vulnerability may be categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0002 (Execution) and TA0005 (Defense Evasion) when exploited for privilege escalation or persistence mechanisms. The remediation approach should also include user education about avoiding suspicious media files and understanding the risks associated with downloading content from untrusted sources.