Multiple format string vulnerabilities in (1) the cdio_log_handler function in modules/access/cdda/access.c in the CDDA (libcdda_plugin) plugin, and the (2) cdio_log_handler and (3) vcd_log_handler functions in modules/access/vcdx/access.c in the VCDX (libvcdx_plugin) plugin, in VideoLAN VLC 0.7.0 through 0.8.6 allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in an invalid URI, as demonstrated by a udp://– URI in an M3U file.
The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.
| Name | Vendor | Start Version | End Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.7.0 (including) | 0.7.0 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.7.1 (including) | 0.7.1 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.7.2 (including) | 0.7.2 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.8.0 (including) | 0.8.0 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.8.1 (including) | 0.8.1 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.8.2 (including) | 0.8.2 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.8.4 (including) | 0.8.4 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.8.4a (including) | 0.8.4a (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.8.5 (including) | 0.8.5 (including) |
| Vlc_media_player | Videolan | 0.8.6 (including) | 0.8.6 (including) |
| Vlc | Ubuntu | dapper | * |
| Vlc | Ubuntu | devel | * |
| Vlc | Ubuntu | edgy | * |
| Vlc | Ubuntu | feisty | * |
When an attacker can modify an externally-controlled format string, this can lead to buffer overflows, denial of service, or data representation problems. It should be noted that in some circumstances, such as internationalization, the set of format strings is externally controlled by design. If the source of these format strings is trusted (e.g. only contained in library files that are only modifiable by the system administrator), then the external control might not itself pose a vulnerability.