Helix Player format string vulnerability

Overview

Helix Player, and media players based on the Helix Player, contain a format string vulnerability that may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

Description

Helix Player is used to play various types of media files on UNIX systems. The Helix Media Player contains a format string vulnerability in the routines that handle media files. A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to access a specially crafted media file, such as a realpix (.rp) or realtext (.rt) file. In addition, web browsers can be configured to automatically launch the Helix Player when media content is encountered, thus an attack may be triggered by visiting a malicious website.

This issue also affects media players based on the Helix Player, including Real Player for Linux systems. Note there is publicly available exploit code for this vulnerability.

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Impact

A remote attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Helix Media Player process.

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Solution

Upgrade

This vulnerability was corrected in Helix Player 1.0.6 and Real Player 10 for Linux.

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Do not access media files from untrusted sources

Accessing media files from trusted or known sources only will reduce the chances of exploitation.

Disable Helix Player or Real Player for Linux support in the web browser

Configuring a web browser to not automatically launch the Helix Player when media content is encountered will reduce the chances of exploitation.

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Vendor Information

361181

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Debian Linux __ Affected

Updated: September 30, 2005

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Please see <http://www.debian.org/security/2005/dsa-826&gt;

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us [email](<mailto:[email protected]?Subject=VU%23361181 Feedback>).

RealNetworks, Inc. Affected

Updated: September 30, 2005

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Red Hat, Inc. __ Affected

Updated: September 29, 2005

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

Updated Helixplayer packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and updated RealPlayer packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Extras (version 3 and version 4) to correct this issue are available at the URL below and by using the Red Hat Network ‘up2date’ tool.

<http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/CAN-2005-2710.html&gt;

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

CVSS Metrics

Group	Score	Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

• <https://player.helixcommunity.org/2005/releases/hx1gold/HX1_0_6ReleaseNotes.html&gt;
• <http://service.real.com/help/faq/security/050930_player/EN/&gt;
• <http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2005-788.html&gt;
• <http://secunia.com/advisories/16954/&gt;
• <http://secunia.com/advisories/16961/&gt;
• http://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=311&type=vulnerabilities&flashstatus=true

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was reported by c0ntexb.

This document was written by Jeff Gennari.

Other Information

CVE IDs:	CVE-2005-2710
Severity Metric:	12.58 Date Public: