CVE-2004-2179 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
asycpict.dll, as used in Microsoft products such as Front Page 97 and 98, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (hang) via a JPEG image with maximum height and width values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2179 resides in the asycpict.dll component that was integrated into Microsoft Front Page 97 and 98 products. This dynamic link library served as a critical element for handling image processing functionalities within these web development tools. The flaw manifests specifically when the system encounters JPEG image files that contain maximum height and width values set to their theoretical limits. This particular implementation does not properly validate or handle such extreme parameter values, creating a condition where maliciously crafted image files can trigger unexpected behavior in the application.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the image processing routines of asycpict.dll. When the system attempts to parse JPEG images with maximum possible height and width values, the processing algorithms become trapped in computational loops or resource allocation issues that ultimately result in the application hanging. This occurs because the code does not implement proper bounds checking or overflow protection mechanisms for image dimension parameters. The vulnerability represents a classic case of improper handling of boundary conditions, which falls under the broader category of software defects that can lead to denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it provides remote attackers with a method to disrupt service availability for users of affected Microsoft Front Page versions. An attacker could craft malicious JPEG files with maximum dimension values and distribute them through web servers or email attachments, causing any system running affected Front Page software to become unresponsive when attempting to process these images. This creates a significant risk for web developers and content managers who rely on Front Page for website maintenance, as a single compromised image could bring down entire development environments or production systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Microsoft, as well as implementation of defensive measures such as image validation at network boundaries. Organizations should ensure that all Front Page installations are updated to versions that contain fixed implementations of the asycpict.dll component. Network security controls including content filtering systems and web application firewalls should be configured to scan and block JPEG files with suspicious dimension parameters. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and boundary condition handling in software development practices, aligning with security standards such as those outlined in CWE-129 and the broader principles of the MITRE ATT&CK framework for preventing remote code execution and denial of service attacks through input manipulation techniques.