CVE-2003-1129 in Audio Conferencing
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Yahoo! Audio Conferencing (aka Voice Chat) ActiveX control before 1,0,0,45 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a URL with a long hostname to Yahoo! Messenger or Yahoo! Chat.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1129 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Yahoo Messenger and Yahoo! Chat applications. This issue affects versions prior to 1,0,0,45 and demonstrates a classic software security weakness that has been documented under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability manifests when the ActiveX control processes a URL containing an excessively long hostname parameter, creating a scenario where memory allocation exceeds the bounds of the designated buffer space.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation within the ActiveX control's hostname parsing functionality. When a maliciously crafted URL with an extended hostname is processed by the vulnerable control, the system fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. This fundamental flaw allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution. The buffer overflow occurs in the context of the ActiveX control runtime environment, where the memory layout is predictable and exploitable.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to end-user systems and network security infrastructure. The attack vector requires minimal user interaction, as the malicious URL can be delivered through various means including email attachments, instant messaging, or web-based social engineering campaigns. Once executed, the vulnerability can result in immediate denial of service conditions where the affected application crashes or becomes unresponsive, while simultaneously providing potential for remote code execution that could allow attackers to gain full control over the victim's system. The impact extends beyond individual user devices to potentially compromise entire corporate networks where Yahoo! Messenger is widely deployed.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of malicious files or URLs to execute code on target systems. The remediation approach must include immediate patch deployment for the affected Yahoo Messenger version 1,0,0,45 or later, which includes proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms to prevent the buffer overflow condition from occurring during hostname processing.