CVE-1999-1575 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
The Kodak/Wang (1) Image Edit (imgedit.ocx), (2) Image Annotation (imgedit.ocx), (3) Image Scan (imgscan.ocx), (4) Thumbnail Image (imgthumb.ocx), (5) Image Admin (imgadmin.ocx), (6) HHOpen (hhopen.ocx), (7) Registration Wizard (regwizc.dll), and (8) IE Active Setup (setupctl.dll) ActiveX controls for Internet Explorer (IE) 4.01 and 5.0 are marked as "Safe for Scripting," which allows remote attackers to create and modify files and execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
This vulnerability involves multiple ActiveX controls developed by Kodak and Wang that were distributed with Internet Explorer versions 4.01 and 5.0. These controls were improperly configured with the "Safe for Scripting" attribute, which is a security mechanism designed to allow controls to be invoked from script code within web pages. The flaw stems from the controls being marked as safe for scripting when they should not have been, creating a dangerous security boundary that allows malicious web pages to execute unauthorized operations on vulnerable systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the ActiveX security model in Internet Explorer where controls marked as "Safe for Scripting" can be instantiated and manipulated by JavaScript code running in web contexts. The affected components include image editing, annotation, scanning, thumbnail generation, administration, and setup controls that were designed for local system operations but were exposed to web-based script execution. These controls have the capability to perform file system operations, registry modifications, and arbitrary command execution when invoked through malicious web pages, making them particularly dangerous in the context of web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to vulnerable systems through web browsers. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create, modify, or delete files on the target system, execute arbitrary code, and potentially escalate privileges depending on the user context. The vulnerability affects all Internet Explorer versions 4.01 and 5.0, which were widely deployed in corporate and enterprise environments during the late 1990s, making it a critical security concern for organizations running these legacy systems. The risk is compounded by the fact that these controls were often installed by default as part of the Kodak/Wang software suite, providing attackers with a readily available attack vector.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-434 which describes "Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type" and represents a classic case of insecure ActiveX control configuration. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1195.002 which covers "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" and T1059.007 which involves "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell." Organizations should immediately disable the affected ActiveX controls through registry modifications or browser security settings, deploy updated versions of the affected software, and implement network-based restrictions to prevent access to potentially malicious web content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security configuration of ActiveX controls and the need for organizations to maintain up-to-date security patches for legacy software components.