Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    RealPlayer Flaws Trigger PC Hijack Alert

    Written by

    Ryan Naraine
    Published June 23, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Digital-media delivery company RealNetworks on Thursday rolled out patches for four high-risk vulnerabilities in its flagship RealPlayer software, warning that the flaws put millions of users at risk of PC hijack attacks.

      The Seattle, Wash.-based RealNetworks Inc. said the flaws can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the logged-in user.

      The company issued a high-risk alert and confirmed that all four flaws affect RealPlayer 10 and 10.5, RealOne Player versions 1 and 2 and RealPlayer 8.

      RealPlayer Enterprise, the configurable version of RealPlayer designed for enterprise deployments, the Rhapsody 3 music service and the open-source Linux and Helix versions are also affected, the company warned.

      The most serious of the four flaws could allow an attacker to create a malicious MP3 file to allow the overwriting of a local file or execution of an ActiveX control on a vulnerable machine.

      RealNetworks said a malicious RealMedia file that used RealText could also be used as an attack mechanism to cause a heap overflow. This could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a target machine.

      A third vulnerability was described as buffer-overflow error in the “vidplin.dll” file that does not properly handle specially crafted AVI files. This could be exploited via malicious Web sites to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the logged-in user, RealNetworks said.

      The company said a fourth vulnerability could be combined with default settings of earlier Internet Explorer browsers and exploited by a malicious Web site to create a local HTML file and then trigger an RM file to play which would then reference the local HTML file.

      /zimages/1/28571.gifTo read about earlier security vulnerabilities in RealPlayer, click here.

      Security experts have long warned that flaws in desktop media players present a lucrative target because, in most cases, the software sits behind perimeter firewalls.

      “If you are a RealPlayer user, you want to take this seriously and apply the updates,” said Marc Maiffret, co-founder and chief hacking officer at eEye Digital Security, a private research outfit credited with reporting the RealPlayer flaws.

      /zimages/1/28571.gifHackers can use DRM technology in Windows Media Player to install spyware on users computers. Click here to read more.

      In an interview with Ziff Davis Internet News, Maiffret said the flaws could easily be exploited to take over a machine with minimal user interaction. “Anyone that looks at a movie being sent through e-mail or goes to a Web page with an embedded movie can have their system compromised.”

      Maiffret said code execution holes in RealPlayer should be taken just as seriously as flaws in Microsoft Windows products. “[RealPlayer] is very common with computer OEMs. It may not be a Windows default, but its preinstalled on many popular brands sold over the counter,” he added.

      In its advisory, RealNetworks said Windows users can apply the updates via the “Tools > Check for Updates” feature of the software.

      The company has posted separate instructions for updating RealPlayer Enterprise.

      /zimages/1/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at eWEEK.com Security Center Editor Larry Seltzers Weblog.

      Ryan Naraine
      Ryan Naraine

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×