CVE-2007-1498 in ProtectionPilot
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the SiteManager.SiteMgr.1 ActiveX control (SiteManager.dll) in the ePO management console in McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) before 3.6.1 Patch 1 and ProtectionPilot (PRP) before 1.5.0 HotFix allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long argument to the (1) ExportSiteList and (2) VerifyPackageCatalog functions, and (3) unspecified vectors involving a swprintf function call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1498 represents a critical security flaw in the McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) management console and ProtectionPilot (PRP) software. This issue affects versions prior to ePO 3.6.1 Patch 1 and PRP 1.5.0 HotFix, exposing systems to potential remote code execution attacks through specifically crafted malicious input. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the SiteManager.SiteMgr.1 ActiveX control, which is implemented through the SiteManager.dll library. This ActiveX control serves as a component for managing site configurations and package catalogs within the McAfee security infrastructure, making it a critical element for system administration and security policy enforcement.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves stack-based buffer overflows occurring in three distinct functions within the ActiveX control. The primary attack vectors target the ExportSiteList and VerifyPackageCatalog functions, where attackers can supply excessively long argument strings that exceed the allocated buffer space on the stack. Additionally, the vulnerability encompasses unspecified vectors involving a swprintf function call, indicating that the underlying issue may extend beyond these two documented functions. These buffer overflow conditions occur because the software fails to properly validate input length before copying data into fixed-size buffers, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory and potentially manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows where the buffer is allocated on the stack and can be overwritten by data exceeding its capacity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution without authentication requirements, allowing attackers to gain arbitrary control over affected systems. When exploited, the buffer overflow can lead to complete system compromise, enabling attackers to install malware, modify security policies, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The ActiveX control's integration into the ePO management console means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with administrative privileges over the entire security management platform, potentially affecting thousands of managed endpoints. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where ePO serves as the central security management solution, as compromise of the management console could result in widespread security breaches across the organization. The attack surface is further expanded due to the ActiveX control's accessibility through web interfaces, making exploitation possible through browser-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1498 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to the affected software versions, specifically upgrading to ePO 3.6.1 Patch 1 and PRP 1.5.0 HotFix or later versions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to the ePO management console and limit the attack surface by disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting administrative access to the management console to only authorized personnel. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious ActiveX control usage and conducting regular security assessments to identify unpatched systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as exploitation would likely involve command execution and privilege elevation within the compromised environment. System administrators should also consider disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted ActiveX components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and buffer management in security-critical applications, particularly those handling administrative functions within enterprise security infrastructure.