CVE-2016-2399 in libquicktime
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the quicktime_read_pascal function in libquicktime 1.2.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have other unspecified impact via a crafted hdlr MP4 atom.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2399 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the libquicktime library version 1.2.4 and earlier, specifically within the quicktime_read_pascal function. This issue arises from improper handling of data structures when processing MP4 container files, particularly when encountering a crafted hdlr atom. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-190, which catalogs integer overflow conditions that can lead to unpredictable behavior and security consequences. The affected library serves as a multimedia framework for handling various audio and video formats, making it a widespread component in applications that process QuickTime and MP4 media files.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the quicktime_read_pascal function processes a malformed hdlr atom within an MP4 file structure. The function fails to properly validate integer values during parsing operations, leading to an overflow condition that can cause memory corruption or unexpected program termination. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious MP4 file containing an oversized or improperly formatted hdlr atom, the integer overflow can trigger a denial of service condition where the application crashes or becomes unresponsive. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks through manipulation of input data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the integer overflow may potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. Applications that rely on libquicktime for media processing, including multimedia players, content management systems, and video editing software, become vulnerable to remote exploitation. The vulnerability affects systems running affected versions of the library across multiple operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS platforms where QuickTime or MP4 support is implemented. Attackers could leverage this flaw in web applications, email clients, or media processing services that accept user-uploaded content, potentially leading to system compromise or service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2399 involve immediate upgrading to libquicktime version 1.2.5 or later, where the integer overflow has been corrected through proper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent processing of untrusted media files, particularly in environments where user uploads are accepted. Additional defensive measures include deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file format patterns and implementing application sandboxing to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper integer handling in multimedia processing libraries and serves as a reminder of the critical need for thorough input validation in media parsing components that handle complex binary formats.