CVE-2002-1601 in PhotoDeluxe
Summary
by MITRE
The Connectables feature in Adobe PhotoDeluxe 3.1 prepends the Adobe directory to the CLASSPATH environment variable, which allows applets to run with higher privileges and remote attackers to gain privileges via an HTML e-mail message or a web page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1601 resides within Adobe PhotoDeluxe 3.1's Connectables feature, representing a critical security flaw that fundamentally undermines the sandboxing mechanisms designed to protect users from malicious code execution. This vulnerability specifically targets the CLASSPATH environment variable handling within the Adobe PhotoDeluxe application, creating a privilege escalation vector that enables remote code execution through seemingly benign web content. The flaw demonstrates a classic insecure coding practice where application components are improperly configured to grant excessive permissions to untrusted code, violating fundamental security principles of least privilege and code isolation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the Connectables feature's improper manipulation of the CLASSPATH environment variable, which serves as a critical security boundary in java-based applications. When PhotoDeluxe 3.1 processes web content or email messages containing applets, it automatically prepends its own installation directory to the CLASSPATH, effectively extending the application's trusted codebase to include potentially malicious code. This behavior creates an attack surface where remote adversaries can craft HTML email messages or web pages containing specially crafted applets that exploit the modified CLASSPATH to execute with elevated privileges. The vulnerability essentially transforms the application's security model from a sandboxed environment to one where malicious code can bypass security restrictions through legitimate application pathways.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1601 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a complete breakdown in the application's security architecture and creates opportunities for widespread exploitation through email-based attacks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by embedding malicious applets within HTML email messages or web pages, which when viewed by a victim with PhotoDeluxe 3.1 installed, would execute with the elevated privileges of the application itself. This creates a significant risk for users who may unknowingly open email messages from untrusted sources or navigate to compromised websites, as the attack requires no user interaction beyond normal browsing or email consumption activities. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by the fact that PhotoDeluxe was commonly installed on end-user systems, making it a prime target for exploitation.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059.007 for scripting and T1203 for exploitation of remote services, while also mapping to CWE-276 for insecure permissions and CWE-74 for injection flaws. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and insecure configuration practices that violate security best practices established in standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including disabling the Connectables feature, updating to patched versions of PhotoDeluxe, and implementing email filtering solutions to block potentially malicious HTML content. Network segmentation and user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted email attachments remain critical defensive measures, while system administrators should monitor for unauthorized installations of vulnerable PhotoDeluxe versions and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.