iDEFENSE Security Advisory 01.13.05 - Apple iTunes Playlist Parsing Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Apple iTunes Playlist Parsing Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
iDEFENSE Security Advisory 01.13.05:
http://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?type=vulnerabilities
January 13, 2005
I. BACKGROUND
Apple iTunes is a digital jukebox capable of playing a variety of sound
file formats, sharing music and burning music CD's. More information
about iTunes is available from:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
II. DESCRIPTION
Remote exploitation of a buffer overflow vulnerability in Apple Computer
Inc.'s iTunes music player allows attackers to execute arbitrary code.
The problem specifically exists when parsing playlist files that contain
long URL file entries. Malicious playlist files can come with either the
.m3u or .pls extension. Though their formats are different, the
vulnerability in each is the same.
An example malicious .pls file with a long URL:
[playlist]
NumberOfEntries=1
File1=http://[A x 3045]1234
An example malicious .m3u file with a long URL:
http://[A x 3045]1234
In both cases '[A x 3045]' represents any string of 3,045 bytes in
length. Opening either malicious playlist file on the Microsoft Windows
platform will cause iTunes to crash with an access violation when
attempting to execute instruction 0x34333231, which is the little-endian
ASCII code representation of '1234'. An attacker can exploit this
vulnerability to redirect the flow of control and eventually execute
arbitrary code. While this example is specific to the Microsoft Windows
platform, exploitation on the Apple Mac OS platform is also possible.
III. ANALYSIS
Exploitation of the described vulnerability allows remote attackers to
execute arbitrary code under the context of the user who started iTunes.
Exploitation requires that an attacker convince a target user to open a
malicious playlist file with a vulnerable version of iTunes.
IV. DETECTION
iTunes 4.7 as installed on the Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS
platforms are affected. Earlier versions may also be susceptible.
V. WORKAROUND
Do not open playlist files from untrusted sources. Inspect the contents
of .m3u and .pls playlist files for long URL file names prior to opening
them with iTunes.
VI. VENDOR RESPONSE
This vulnerability is addressed in iTunes 4.7.1.
iTunes 4.7.1 may be obtained from the Software Update pane in System
Preferences, or Apple's iTunes download site:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
VII. CVE INFORMATION
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
names CAN-2005-0043 to these issues. This is a candidate for inclusion
in the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for
security problems.
VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
12/17/2004 Initial vendor notification
12/17/2004 Initial vendor response
01/13/2004 Public disclosure
IX. CREDIT
Sean de Regge (seanderegge[at]hotmail.com) is credited with this
discovery.
Get paid for vulnerability research
http://www.idefense.com/poi/teams/vcp.jsp
X. LEGAL NOTICES
Copyright (c) 2004 iDEFENSE, Inc.
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Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate
at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
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There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the
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or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on,
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