CVE-2015-7090 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-2015-7086, CVE-2015-7087, CVE-2015-7088, CVE-2015-7089, CVE-2015-7091, CVE-2015-7092, and CVE-2015-7117.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2022
Apple QuickTime versions prior to 7.7.9 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through maliciously crafted movie files. This vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where improper input validation allowed attackers to manipulate memory structures within the QuickTime player application. The flaw specifically manifested when processing specially crafted media files that contained malformed data structures, leading to unpredictable memory corruption patterns that could be exploited to gain arbitrary code execution privileges. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust users place in media file handling, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious download scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of movie file headers and metadata structures. When QuickTime encountered malformed data within the movie file format, the application failed to properly validate input boundaries, resulting in memory corruption that could be manipulated to overwrite critical program execution pointers or return addresses. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, as the application did not adequately protect against memory access violations during media file processing. The exploitation mechanism typically involves crafting a movie file with carefully constructed data that, when processed by the vulnerable QuickTime version, triggers the memory corruption leading to code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass significant denial of service capabilities that can crash the entire QuickTime application or potentially the host system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites that automatically attempt to play malicious QuickTime content. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple attack scenarios makes it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where QuickTime is commonly deployed for multimedia content delivery. Organizations running older QuickTime versions face substantial risk of compromise as the vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction once a malicious movie file is encountered.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates to the patched QuickTime 7.7.9 version which addressed the underlying memory corruption issues through enhanced input validation and proper bounds checking. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all vulnerable QuickTime installations are updated promptly, as the vulnerability affects a widely used media player across multiple operating systems. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted QuickTime content, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and educating end users about the risks of opening unknown movie files. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the compromised media player application. Organizations should also consider removing or disabling QuickTime functionality where it is not essential for business operations to reduce attack surface exposure.