CVE-2005-4560 in Wine
Summary
by MITRE
The Windows Graphical Device Interface library (GDI32.DLL) in Microsoft Windows allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a Windows Metafile (WMF) format image with a crafted SETABORTPROC GDI Escape function call, related to the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer (SHIMGVW.DLL), a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-2123 and CVE-2005-2124, and as originally discovered in the wild on unionseek.com.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4560 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Windows Graphical Device Interface library that affects Microsoft Windows operating systems. This security weakness specifically resides in GDI32.DLL and manifests when processing Windows Metafile format images, particularly through the SETABORTPROC GDI Escape function call. The vulnerability was originally discovered in the wild on unionseek.com, indicating active exploitation in real-world scenarios. The attack vector involves remote code execution through specially crafted WMF image files that exploit the improper handling of escape function parameters within the graphics processing pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the GDI32.DLL library when processing the SETABORTPROC escape function call in WMF files. When the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer (SHIMGVW.DLL) processes these malicious images, the flawed parameter validation allows attackers to overwrite memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This memory corruption occurs during the parsing of the WMF format, where the escape function parameters are not properly validated against their expected size limits. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the graphics subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered without user interaction when images are automatically processed by the system's image handling components.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-4560 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised user account, potentially leading to full system takeover. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it can be triggered automatically through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. The Windows Picture and Fax Viewer component serves as the primary attack surface, making it a common target for malware distribution campaigns that take advantage of the automatic image processing capabilities of the operating system.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patch application through Microsoft's security updates, as the flaw exists in core operating system components that cannot be effectively protected through configuration changes alone. Organizations should implement network-based protections including firewall rules that block WMF file transfers and email filtering that scans for potentially malicious image attachments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how graphics processing libraries can become attack vectors. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, demonstrating how initial access through image processing can lead to broader system compromise. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict the execution of potentially malicious image processing components, while monitoring for anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.