CVE-2007-1402 in Toolbar
Summary
by MITRE
The Rediff Toolbar 2.0 ActiveX control in redifftoolbar.dll allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via unspecified manipulations, possibly involving improper initialization or blank arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1402 resides within the Rediff Toolbar 2.0 ActiveX control, specifically in the redifftoolbar.dll component that is commonly installed as part of the toolbar suite. This ActiveX control represents a significant security concern due to its implementation of unsafe parameter handling mechanisms that can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt system operations. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified manipulations that appear to target the control's initialization process or argument validation procedures, creating potential pathways for malicious exploitation.
The technical flaw within this ActiveX control stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms during the control's initialization phase. When the control receives malformed or unexpected arguments, particularly blank or null parameters, the implementation fails to properly handle these edge cases, leading to unpredictable behavior that can result in system instability. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-170, which addresses improper handling of input that can lead to unexpected behavior in software components. The control's inability to gracefully manage invalid inputs demonstrates poor defensive programming practices that are commonly exploited in denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can potentially allow attackers to cause complete system instability or application crashes. When exploited, the vulnerability may result in the toolbar application becoming unresponsive or terminating unexpectedly, which can affect user productivity and system availability. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can leverage this weakness without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ActiveX controls are frequently deployed. This vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1211, which covers exploitation of vulnerabilities in software components to achieve denial of service outcomes.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of broader ActiveX control security concerns that were prevalent during the mid-2000s era when browser-based ActiveX integration was common. The exploitation of such controls often requires understanding of browser security models and the specific ways in which ActiveX components interact with web page contexts. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to address this vulnerability and consider removing or disabling ActiveX controls that are no longer actively supported. The remediation approach should include immediate patch deployment for the affected toolbar version and potentially the complete removal of the toolbar from systems to prevent exploitation attempts.