CVE-2015-3790 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-2015-3765, CVE-2015-3779, CVE-2015-3788, CVE-2015-3789, 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 • 06/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3790 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple QuickTime 7 software running on operating systems prior to macOS 10.10.5. This vulnerability exists within the media processing capabilities of QuickTime and specifically affects how the application handles crafted media files, creating opportunities for remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows or memory corruption issues that have historically been exploited in multimedia processing components due to insufficient input validation and memory management practices.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed media files within the QuickTime framework, where attackers can craft specially designed files that trigger memory corruption during the parsing or rendering process. When QuickTime processes these malicious files, the application fails to properly validate input data boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, which are common in multimedia processing libraries where complex parsing logic must handle various file formats and their edge cases.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3790 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides attackers with potential remote code execution capabilities that could allow full system compromise. Attackers can deliver malicious media files through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter such malicious content. The vulnerability's classification under the broader ATT&CK framework places it within the T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution technique category, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately apply the macOS 10.10.5 security update from Apple which contains the necessary patches to address the memory corruption issues. Additionally, network administrators should implement content filtering measures to block suspicious media file attachments and consider disabling QuickTime plugin support in web browsers where possible. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly dangerous as it can be automatically triggered through various attack vectors. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual QuickTime process behaviors and memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given that this vulnerability affects a widely used media player component, organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized QuickTime processes and ensure that all endpoints are running patched versions of the operating system and QuickTime software.