CVE-2015-7086 in QuickTime
Summary
by MITRE
Apple QuickTime before 7.7.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted movie file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7085, CVE-2015-7087, CVE-2015-7088, CVE-2015-7089, CVE-2015-7090, CVE-2015-7091, CVE-2015-7092, and CVE-2015-7117.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2022
Apple QuickTime player versions prior to 7.7.9 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through maliciously crafted movie files. This vulnerability specifically affected the parsing of media containers and occurred when the application processed specially constructed movie files that triggered improper memory handling during media decoding operations. The flaw represented a classic buffer overflow condition where insufficient input validation allowed attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability was distinct from several other related issues affecting the same product line, indicating a separate code path or component within QuickTime's media processing engine that required independent remediation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved the manipulation of movie file headers and metadata structures that QuickTime's parser did not properly validate before attempting to allocate memory for media data processing. When the application encountered malformed or oversized data fields within the movie file format, it would attempt to allocate insufficient memory buffers, leading to memory corruption that could be exploited to overwrite critical program execution structures. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios that can occur during dynamic memory allocation. The memory corruption patterns observed in this vulnerability suggest that attackers could leverage the flawed memory management to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple remote code execution to include potential denial of service conditions that could crash the QuickTime application and render it unusable. Attackers could craft movie files that would cause the application to crash immediately upon playback, creating a reliable denial of service vector that could be exploited in targeted attacks or mass deployment scenarios. The vulnerability affected users across multiple operating systems including macOS and Windows platforms where QuickTime player was installed, making it a significant threat vector for both individual users and enterprise environments. The remote nature of the attack meant that users could be compromised simply by opening or previewing malicious movie files, without requiring any additional user interaction or privileges beyond basic application execution.
Security researchers classified this vulnerability as particularly dangerous due to its ability to execute arbitrary code without user interaction, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability's exploitation typically required no special privileges or complex attack chains, as the flaw existed within the application's legitimate media processing functionality. Organizations using QuickTime for media playback in corporate environments faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be leveraged through email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The attack surface was broadened by the widespread adoption of QuickTime across various platforms and applications that integrated the player component. Mitigation strategies focused primarily on immediate patch deployment and application updates, with security teams implementing network-based controls to block known malicious movie file formats until comprehensive system updates were applied.
The vulnerability highlighted critical gaps in media processing software security and underscored the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia applications. It demonstrated how legacy media formats and their parsers could contain fundamental security flaws that remained undetected for extended periods, particularly in software that had been in production for many years. The issue contributed to broader discussions about software security lifecycle management and the need for regular security assessments of widely deployed applications. Organizations implementing security controls for this vulnerability typically followed ATT&CK framework techniques related to command and control operations and privilege escalation, as the successful exploitation could provide attackers with persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's resolution required careful patch management and system monitoring to ensure complete remediation across all affected platforms and configurations.