CVE-2007-0674 in Windows Mobile
Summary
by MITRE
Pictures and Videos on Windows Mobile 5.0 and Windows Mobile 2003 and 2003SE for Smartphones and PocketPC allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device hang) via a malformed JPEG file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0674 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting mobile operating systems from Microsoft's Windows Mobile platform. This flaw specifically targets Windows Mobile 5.0, Windows Mobile 2003, and Windows Mobile 2003 SE across both Smartphones and PocketPC devices. The vulnerability manifests when these mobile platforms attempt to process multimedia content, particularly images and videos, through their built-in media handling capabilities. The flaw is classified as a user-assisted remote attack vector, meaning that an attacker must convince a user to interact with a maliciously crafted file, but once triggered, the attack can successfully compromise the device's operational integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the JPEG image processing routines of the affected Windows Mobile versions. When a malformed JPEG file is encountered during the decoding process, the system's image rendering engine fails to properly handle the corrupted data structure, leading to a complete system hang or crash. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input ranges, and CWE-248, which addresses exposure of a resource to the wrong interface. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper bounds checking and error handling in the JPEG parser, causing the device to enter an unrecoverable state where normal operations cease entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render mobile devices unusable until manual reboot occurs. For users relying on these devices for business communications, personal organization, or emergency services, such a denial of service attack could have severe consequences. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizations that deploy these mobile platforms in enterprise environments, where device availability is critical for operational continuity. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw in targeted attacks against specific individuals or groups, or even use it as part of broader campaign strategies to disable mobile communications infrastructure.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in mobile operating systems, particularly in resource-constrained environments where error recovery mechanisms may be limited. The attack vector classification places this vulnerability within the ATT&CK framework's T1499 category, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566, which addresses social engineering techniques that can be used to deliver malicious payloads. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address this vulnerability, ensuring that all affected Windows Mobile devices receive appropriate updates. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing content filtering measures to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious JPEG files to mobile devices, while users should exercise caution when downloading or opening multimedia content from untrusted sources. The vulnerability also highlights the need for better security testing of multimedia processing components in mobile platforms, as similar flaws could exist in other image or video format parsers within the operating system.