CVE-2017-5881 in GOM Player
Summary
by MITRE
GOM Player 2.3.10.5266 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted fpx file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2024
GOM Player version 2.3.10.5266 contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through memory corruption or potentially more severe impacts via manipulation of crafted fpx files. This vulnerability represents a significant security risk for users who may unknowingly open maliciously constructed files that exploit the player's handling of fpx format data. The flaw exists within the media player's file parsing mechanism, specifically in how it processes fpx files which are typically used for image sequences in multimedia applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the GOM Player application when processing maliciously crafted fpx files. Attackers can construct specially formatted fpx files that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption issues during the parsing process, leading to application crashes or potentially more dangerous outcomes. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The memory corruption can occur during the decompression or rendering of image sequences contained within the fpx files, exploiting weaknesses in the player's internal data handling routines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that attackers might be able to execute arbitrary code or gain elevated privileges. When a user opens a crafted fpx file, the application crashes due to memory corruption, but the underlying flaw could potentially be exploited to inject malicious code into the system. This vulnerability affects any user who has GOM Player installed and is exposed to untrusted fpx files through email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The attack vector is particularly concerning because fpx files are commonly used in multimedia applications and could be encountered in legitimate contexts, making user awareness and protection challenging.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate software updates from the vendor to address the memory corruption issues in the file parsing logic. Users should avoid opening fpx files from untrusted sources and implement strict file validation policies before opening any multimedia files. Network administrators should consider implementing file type restrictions and content filtering to prevent potentially malicious fpx files from reaching end users. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other media player applications and ensure comprehensive protection against similar exploitation vectors.