CVE-2015-3765 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
QuickTime 7 in Apple OS X before 10.10.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3779, CVE-2015-3788, CVE-2015-3789, CVE-2015-3790, CVE-2015-3791, CVE-2015-3792, CVE-2015-5751, CVE-2015-5753, and CVE-2015-5779.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
QuickTime 7 in Apple OS X versions prior to 10.10.5 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through the careful crafting of malicious files. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other related issues affecting the same software ecosystem, including CVE-2015-3779 through CVE-2015-5779, indicating that the vulnerability stems from a specific code path within QuickTime's file parsing mechanisms rather than a broader class of issues. The flaw manifests when the QuickTime component processes specially crafted media files that contain malformed data structures, leading to improper memory handling and subsequent application instability. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple cybersecurity domains, with the underlying cause mapping to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes that may result in arbitrary code execution. The attack vector leverages the fact that QuickTime is designed to automatically process and display media content from various sources, making it susceptible to exploitation when users encounter maliciously crafted files in web browsers, email attachments, or file sharing environments. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content, potentially leading to complete system compromise or service disruption. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing of media file headers and metadata structures, where insufficient validation allows attackers to manipulate memory pointers and control execution flow, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple application crashes, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to full system compromise. Organizations running vulnerable versions of OS X should prioritize immediate patching to address this issue, as the vulnerability exists in the widely used QuickTime media framework that processes content from multiple sources including web content and email attachments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking within QuickTime's media file parser, specifically when handling certain header structures in audio and video files. When a malicious file is processed, the parser fails to validate array indices or buffer sizes properly, allowing attackers to craft inputs that cause memory corruption during the parsing process. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because QuickTime is often invoked automatically by the operating system when users open or preview media content, meaning that simply encountering a malicious file can trigger exploitation without user interaction. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the broader category of heap-based buffer overflows and stack-based buffer overflows that have historically been primary attack vectors for privilege escalation and code execution. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a file with specific byte sequences that cause the parser to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting critical program structures or return addresses. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability can be triggered through multiple attack surfaces including HTTP downloads, email attachments, and file sharing protocols, making it particularly challenging to defend against. The vulnerability's presence in QuickTime 7 specifically indicates that it affects older versions of Apple's media framework that were designed with less rigorous input validation than modern security standards would require, aligning with the industry's shift toward more defensive programming practices. The lack of proper bounds checking and memory safety mechanisms in the affected QuickTime implementation demonstrates a failure to follow secure coding practices that would prevent such conditions from occurring.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Apple's security updates for OS X 10.10.5 and later versions, as well as the implementation of network-based protections such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms. Organizations should also consider disabling QuickTime plugin support in web browsers where possible, as this reduces the attack surface for exploitation through web-based delivery mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond normal file processing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have broad access to potentially malicious content. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns or application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where QuickTime is actively used for media processing. Additionally, network segmentation and email filtering solutions should be configured to prevent automatic execution of media content from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers can exploit it from outside the local network, potentially through compromised websites or malicious email attachments. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block known malicious file patterns associated with this vulnerability. The security community has noted that similar vulnerabilities in media processing frameworks have historically been exploited in targeted attacks against specific organizations, making proactive patching and monitoring essential defensive measures. The vulnerability's persistence in older versions of QuickTime highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software systems and implementing automated patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.