CVE-2009-0003

Heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application termination) and execute arbitrary…

published January 21, 2009

CVSS
—
EPSS
9%
Percentile
95.4
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A dodgy AVI file is all it takes to bring down Apple QuickTime! This heap-based buffer overflow lets attackers execute arbitrary code, like a film projectionist who accidentally shows the wrong reel and crashes the whole movie night! 🎬 Think of your favorite movie theater: if someone swapped the film reel with a glitchy version, it could cause the projector to malfunction and ruin the entire screening. Here, it's an invalid nBlockAlign value in the AVI file that's doing just that, leading to a crash and potential remote code execution. If exploited, an attacker could toss a rogue AVI file your way, causing QuickTime to terminate unexpectedly. This could lead to unauthorized code execution, meaning they could potentially take over your system or disrupt your activities without you even noticing!

Put simply

Think of your favorite movie theater: if someone swapped the film reel with a glitchy version, it could cause the projector to malfunction and ruin the entire screening. Here, it's an invalid nBlockAlign value in the AVI file that's doing just that, leading to a crash and potential remote code execution. This vulnerability arises from a heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime prior to version 7.6. Specifically, it occurs when the application processes an AVI file that has an invalid nBlockAlign value in the _WAVEFORMATEX structure, opening the door to application crashes or arbitrary code execution.

What to do

If exploited, an attacker could toss a rogue AVI file your way, causing QuickTime to terminate unexpectedly. This could lead to unauthorized code execution, meaning they could potentially take over your system or disrupt your activities without you even noticing! To protect yourself, ensure you're using QuickTime version 7.6 or later. Additionally, consider implementing strict file validation to prevent processing potentially harmful AVI files. Keeping software updated is a key strategy to mitigate such vulnerabilities! You've got this! Keep your software updated and you'll be the hero of your digital movie night! 🦸‍♂️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.09396 · 95.4th percentile
Published
2009-01-21T20:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 21 JAN 20:00Z
    Heap-based buffer overflow in Apple QuickTime before 7.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application termination) and execute arbitrary…
    cvelistv5