Apple QuickTime Memory Corruption Vulnerability
06.23.11
BACKGROUND

QuickTime is Apple's media player product used to render video and other media. For more information, please visit following website:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
DESCRIPTION

Remote exploitation of a memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Inc.'s QuickTime media player could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the targeted user.

The vulnerability specifically exists in QuickTime Player's handling of specially-crafted MOV/MP4 media files. When processing-specially crafted MOV/MP4 media files, QuickTime uses a frame screen dimension value from the file without properly validating it. It will corrupt heap memory, which could lead to an exploitable condition.
ANALYSIS

Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must persuade a victim into using QuickTime to open a specially-crafted MOV/MP4 media file. This could be accomplished by either direct link or referenced from a website under the attacker's control. An attacker could host a Web page containing a malformed MOV/MP4 file. Upon visiting the malicious Web page, exploitation would occur and execution of arbitrary code would be possible. Alternatively a MOV/MP4 file could be attached within an e-mail file.
DETECTION

Mac OS X v10.6 through v10.6.7, Mac OS X Server v10.6 through v10.6.7 are confirmed vulnerable.
WORKAROUND

iDefense recommends disabling the QuickTime Plugin and altering the .mov and .mp4 file type associations within the registry. Disabling the plugin will prevent Web browsers from utilizing QuickTime Player to view associated media files. Removing the file type associations within the registry will prevent QuickTime Player from opening .mov and mp4 files.
VENDOR RESPONSE

Apple Inc. has released patches which addresses this issue. For more information, consult their advisory at the following URL:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4723
CVE INFORMATION

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the name CVE-2011-0213 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

04/06/2011 Initial Vendor Notification
04/06/2011 Initial Vendor Reply
06/23/2011 Coordinated Public Disclosure
CREDIT

This vulnerability was reported to iDefense by Luigi Auriemma.

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LEGAL NOTICES

Copyright © 2011 Verisign, Inc.

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