CVE-2004-1010 in ZIP
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Info-Zip 2.3 and possibly earlier versions, when using recursive folder compression, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a ZIP file containing a long pathname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1010 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Info-Zip version 2.3 and potentially earlier releases that specifically manifests during recursive folder compression operations. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the ZIP file processing routine, where the software fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of pathnames contained within compressed archives. The flaw occurs when the decompression utility encounters a ZIP file containing excessively long directory paths or file names that exceed the allocated buffer space in memory, creating a condition where adjacent memory locations can be overwritten with attacker-controlled data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the recursive compression feature of Info-Zip, which processes nested directory structures within ZIP archives. When a malicious ZIP file contains a pathname that surpasses the predetermined buffer limits, the software's internal handling routine does not perform proper bounds checking before copying the pathname data into memory. This allows an attacker to craft a specially formatted ZIP archive with an overly long pathname that triggers a buffer overflow condition. The overflow can overwrite critical memory segments including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data structures, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the decompression utility.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems that process untrusted ZIP files, particularly in environments where automated decompression occurs or where users regularly handle files from unknown sources. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through web-based file downloads, email attachments, or file sharing systems without requiring local access to the target system. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also automated systems that process ZIP archives, such as web applications, file servers, or backup systems that automatically extract compressed data. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially allow full system compromise, especially when the affected software runs with elevated privileges or processes sensitive data.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and relates to the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically plagued archive processing utilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation would enable arbitrary code execution on the target system. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Info-Zip, implementing strict file validation policies for untrusted archives, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious ZIP file patterns. Additionally, system administrators should disable recursive decompression features when processing untrusted files and consider implementing sandboxed environments for archive processing to contain potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in archive utilities, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing of file processing components in software applications.