RealPlayer vidplin.dll AVI Processing Heap Overflow

Release Date:
June 23, 2005

Date Reported:
May 4, 2005

Patch Development Time (In Days): 36

Severity:
High (Code Execution)

Vendor:
RealNetworks

Systems Affected:
For Microsoft Windows

RealPlayer 10.5 (6.0.12.1040-1069)
RealPlayer 10
RealOne Player v2
RealOne Player v1
RealPlayer 8
RealPlayer Enterprise

Overview:
eEye Digital Security has discovered a critical vulnerability in
RealPlayer. The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to reliably
overwrite heap memory with arbitrary data and execute arbitrary code in
the context of the user who executed the player.

This specific flaw exists within the vidplin.dll file used by
RealPlayer. By specially crafting a malformed .avi movie file, a direct
heap overwrite is triggered, and reliable code execution is then
possible.  This vulnerability can be trigger when a user views a
webpage, or opens an .avi file via email, instant messenger, or other
common file transfer programs.

Technical Details:
When processing AVI files RealPlayer calls upon a specific DLL,
vidplin.dll, where the vulnerability lies.  Realplayer relies
on a strf structure value and allocates a fixed memory space of 0x428
that can be overflowed with values greater than the fixed buffer size
causing arbitrary code to be executed.

Protection:
Retina - Network Security Scanner - has been updated to identify this
vulnerability.
Blink - End-point Vulnerability Prevention - protects from this
vulnerability.

Vendor Status:
RealNetworks has released a patch for this vulnerability.

http://service.real.com/help/faq/security/050623_player/EN/


Credit:
Discovery: Flashsky

Related Links:
Retina Network Security Scanner - Free 15 Day Trial
http://www.eeye.com/html/Products/Retina/download.html

Blink End Point Vulnerability Prevention
http://www.eeye.com/html/Products/Blink

Copyright (c) 1998-2005 eEye Digital Security
Permission is hereby granted for the redistribution of this alert
electronically. It is not to be edited in any way 
without express consent of eEye. If you wish to reprint the whole or any
part of this alert in any other medium excluding 
electronic medium, please email alert@eEye.com for permission.

Disclaimer
The information within this paper may change without notice. Use of this
information constitutes acceptance for use in an 
AS IS condition. There are no warranties, implied or express, with
regard to this information. In no event shall the author 
be liable for any direct or indirect damages whatsoever arising out of
or in connection with the use or spread of this 
information. Any use of this information is at the user's own risk.