CVE-2019-25735 in AllPlayer
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2026
AllPlayer 7.4 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability in URL handling that allows attackers to overwrite structured exception handling pointers by supplying an excessively long URL string. Attackers can craft a malicious URL, paste it into the Open URL dialog, and trigger SEH-based code execution to run arbitrary commands with user privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2026
The vulnerability in AllPlayer 7.4 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw that exists within the application's URL parsing mechanism, specifically affecting the structured exception handling components of the software. This issue manifests when the application processes excessively long URL strings through its Open URL dialog interface, creating a condition where memory boundaries are exceeded and adjacent memory regions become corrupted. The flaw directly impacts the structured exception handling (SEH) chain that Windows applications utilize for error recovery, allowing attackers to overwrite the SEH pointer structure with malicious data. According to the common weakness enumeration standard CWE-121, this vulnerability falls under the category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific exploitation technique leverages SEH overwrite mechanisms rather than traditional stack corruption. The attack vector requires user interaction through the application's graphical interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed through social engineering campaigns where victims are tricked into opening maliciously crafted URLs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, as the buffer overflow occurs within the context of the application process. When a malformed URL exceeding the allocated buffer size is entered into the Open URL dialog, the application fails to properly validate input length, allowing memory corruption that can be exploited to redirect program execution flow. The SEH-based exploitation technique relies on overwriting the exception handler structure in memory, which when triggered by the buffer overflow, causes the application to jump to attacker-controlled code rather than following normal execution paths. This method of exploitation is particularly effective against applications that do not implement modern exploit mitigation techniques such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, or data execution prevention. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how improper input validation in user interface components can lead to severe privilege escalation scenarios, as the application executes with the same permissions as the user who interacts with it.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it creates a potential entry point for more sophisticated attack chains within compromised systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious payloads that may include malware installation, privilege escalation to system-level access, or data exfiltration activities. The low attack complexity and high impact make this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors, especially when combined with social engineering techniques that encourage users to interact with malicious URLs. The vulnerability affects all users of AllPlayer 7.4 regardless of their security awareness level, as the exploitation requires no specialized knowledge beyond crafting a sufficiently long URL string. This makes the attack surface particularly broad and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation in real-world scenarios, particularly in environments where users frequently open URLs from untrusted sources or where security awareness training is inadequate. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in media player applications that handle external input through user interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate application updates and input validation improvements. Software vendors should implement proper bounds checking on URL input fields and ensure that all user-supplied data is validated before processing, particularly in contexts where structured exception handling is utilized. The implementation of modern exploit mitigation techniques including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention should be prioritized in future releases to reduce the effectiveness of similar exploitation techniques. Users should be advised to avoid opening URLs from untrusted sources and to maintain updated versions of AllPlayer software. Security configurations should include monitoring for unusual URL patterns and implementing application whitelisting where possible. Additionally, regular security assessments of user interface components should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities that could enable privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure software development. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include regular security testing of third-party applications and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting similar vulnerabilities.