Apple QuickTime Macintosh Resource Processing Heap Corruption Vulnerability
01.15.08BACKGROUND
Quicktime is Apple's media player product, and is used to render video and other media. For more information visit the vendor's web site at the following URL.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
DESCRIPTION
Remote exploitation of a heap corruption vulnerability in Apple Computer Inc.'s QuickTime media player could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the targeted user.
The vulnerability specifically exists in the handling of Macintosh Resources embedded in QuickTime movies. When processing these records, a length value stored in the resource header is not properly validated. When a length value larger than the actual buffer size is supplied, potentially exploitable memory corruption occurs.
ANALYSIS
Exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the targeted user. In order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must persuade a user into using QuickTime to open a specially crafted QuickTime movie file.
DETECTION
iDefense Labs confirmed this vulnerability exists in QuickTime Player version 7.3.1. Previous versions are suspected to be vulnerable.
WORKAROUND
iDefense is currently unaware of any effective workaround for this issue.
VENDOR RESPONSE
Apple has released QuickTime 7.4 which resolves this issue. More information is available via Apple's QuickTime Security Update page at the URL shown below.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307301
CVE INFORMATION
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2008-0032 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org/), which standardizes names for security problems.
DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
09/13/2007 Initial vendor notification
09/13/2007 Initial vendor response
01/15/2008 Coordinated public disclosure
CREDIT
This vulnerability was discovered by Jun Mao of VeriSign iDefense Labs.
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LEGAL NOTICES
Copyright © 2008 Verisign, Inc.
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