CVE-2007-1689 in Norton Personal Firewall
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the ISAlertDataCOM ActiveX control in ISLALERT.DLL for Norton Personal Firewall 2004 and Internet Security 2004 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via long arguments to the (1) Get and (2) Set functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1689 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the ISAlertDataCOM ActiveX control component of Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall 2004 and Internet Security 2004 products. This vulnerability exists in the ISLALERT.DLL library and specifically affects the Get and Set methods of the ISAlertDataCOM control, creating a pathway for remote code execution through malformed input parameters. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the ActiveX control implementation, allowing attackers to overflow memory buffers when processing excessively long arguments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow attack pattern where malicious input data exceeds the allocated buffer space in memory, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and executable code segments. The ISAlertDataCOM ActiveX control operates within the context of Internet Explorer or other applications that host ActiveX components, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring local system access. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a prime example of unsafe memory operations in COM components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges and system compromise capabilities within the context of the vulnerable application. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit scripts that load the vulnerable ActiveX control and trigger the buffer overflow through the Get and Set functions, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects systems running Windows operating systems where the Norton Personal Firewall 2004 or Internet Security 2004 products are installed, and the attack vector requires user interaction through web browsing or other applications that load the vulnerable ActiveX control. This makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently visit compromised websites or receive malicious email attachments containing exploit code.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the affected Symantec products through official security updates, disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted ActiveX components. Network administrators should also consider implementing security measures such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in ActiveX controls, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. Organizations should also consider the broader implications of legacy software support and the risks associated with outdated security products that may contain unpatched vulnerabilities. System hardening measures including disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls, implementing least privilege principles, and maintaining current security patches across all software components remain essential defensive measures against similar exploitation vectors.