iDEFENSE Security Advisory 09.30.05: RealNetworks RealPlayer/HelixPlayer RealPix Format String Vulnerability

From: iDEFENSE Labs (labs-no-reply_at_idefense.com)
Date: 09/30/05

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To: <bugtraq@securityfocus.com>, <vulnwatch@vulnwatch.org>, <full-disclosure@lists.grok.org.uk>

    RealNetworks RealPlayer/HelixPlayer RealPix Format String Vulnerability

    iDEFENSE Security Advisory 09.30.05
    www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=311&type=vulnerabilities
    September 30, 2005

    I. BACKGROUND

    RealPlayer is an application for playing various media formats,
    developed by RealNetworks Inc. For more information, visit
    http://www.real.com/.

    II. DESCRIPTION

    Remote exploitation of a format string vulnerability in RealPix (.rp)
    file format parser within various versions of RealNetworks Inc.'s
    RealPlayer could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code.

    The vulnerability specifically exists because of the improper usage of a

    formatted printing function. When a user specifies an invalid value for
    the "timeformat" attribute describing a RealPix file, the data is passed

    to the function.

    The following stripped down .rp file is sufficient enough to trigger the

    vulnerability:

       <imfl>
       <head
       title="iDEFENSE Labs RealPix Vulnerability"
       timeformat="%n%n%n%n%n%n"/>
       </imfl>

    III. ANALYSIS

    Exploitation allows for arbitrary code execution as the user who opened
    the .rp file.

    Exploitation requires an attacker to craft a malicious .rp file and
    convince a user to open it. An attacker could also trick a user to load
    the .rp file from a normal web page under the attacker's control; this
    is possible if the user has configured their web browser to handle
    RealPlayer formats automatically.

    IV. DETECTION

    iDEFENSE Labs has confirmed that RealPlayer 10.0.4.750 on Linux is
    vulnerable. Windows and Mac versions of RealPlayer are not vulnerable.
    FreeBSD versions are suspected vulnerable.

    The vendor has indicated that the following versions are vulnerable:
       Linux RealPlayer 10 (10.0.0 - 10.0.5)
       Helix Player (10.0.0 - 10.0.5)

    The following vendors include susceptible RealPlayer packages within
    their respective distributions:

            The FreeBSD Project: FreeBSD 5.3 and earlier
            Novell Inc.: SuSE Linux 9.2
            Red Hat Inc.: Desktop v.3 and v.4,
               Enterprise Linux AS/ES/WS v.3 and v.4 and Fedora Core 3,
               Linux 7.3 and 9

    V. WORKAROUND

    Filter .rp attachments at e-mail gateways. Educate users about the risks

    of accepting files from untrusted individuals.

    VI. VENDOR RESPONSE

    The vendor had released the following advisory for this vulnerability:

       http://service.real.com/help/faq/security/050930_player/EN/

    VII. CVE INFORMATION

    The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) project has assigned the
    name CAN-2005-2710 to this issue. This is a candidate for inclusion in
    the CVE list (http://cve.mitre.org), which standardizes names for
    security problems.

    VIII. DISCLOSURE TIMELINE

    08/23/2005 Initial vendor notification
    09/02/2005 Initial vendor response
    09/30/2005 Coordinated public disclosure

    IX. CREDIT

    iDEFENSE Labs is credited with this discovery.

    Get paid for vulnerability research
    http://www.idefense.com/poi/teams/vcp.jsp

    Free tools, research and upcoming events
    http://labs.idefense.com

    X. LEGAL NOTICES

    Copyright (c) 2005 iDEFENSE, Inc.

    Permission is granted for the redistribution of this alert
    electronically. It may not be edited in any way without the express
    written consent of iDEFENSE. If you wish to reprint the whole or any
    part of this alert in any other medium other than electronically, please
    email customerservice@idefense.com for permission.

    Disclaimer: The information in the advisory is believed to be accurate
    at the time of publishing based on currently available information. Use
    of the information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition.
    There are no warranties with regard to this information. Neither the
    author nor the publisher accepts any liability for any direct, indirect,
    or consequential loss or damage arising from use of, or reliance on,
    this information.

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