CVE-2007-2210 in Ask IE Toolbar
Summary
by MITRE
A certain ActiveX control in askPopStp.dll in Netsprint Ask IE Toolbar 1.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Internet Explorer crash) via a long AddAllowed property value, related to "improper memory handling," possibly a buffer overflow.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2210 resides within the Netsprint Ask IE Toolbar version 1.1 ActiveX control named askPopStp.dll. This particular component represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against internet explorer browsers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the AddAllowed property receives an excessively long input value, triggering a cascade of improper memory handling that ultimately results in browser crashes. The attack vector leverages the inherent weakness in how the ActiveX control processes user-supplied data, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through web pages or malicious content delivered over the internet.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking occurs during memory allocation and data handling operations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of improper memory handling as outlined in the CWE taxonomy, where the ActiveX control fails to properly validate the length of input parameters before processing them. This inadequate input validation creates an environment where attackers can manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted malicious input that exceeds the allocated buffer space. The buffer overflow condition occurs specifically within the askPopStp.dll component when processing the AddAllowed property, suggesting that the control lacks proper bounds checking mechanisms for property assignments.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users of the Netsprint Ask IE Toolbar, particularly in enterprise environments where internet explorer remains the primary browser for business operations. The denial of service condition can result in complete browser crashes, forcing users to restart their browsers and potentially lose unsaved work. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger these crashes without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in scenarios where users browse untrusted websites or receive malicious emails with embedded web content. The vulnerability affects the stability and availability of internet explorer applications, potentially disrupting business productivity and creating security concerns for organizations relying on the affected toolbar.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the Netsprint Ask IE Toolbar to version 1.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the memory handling issues. System administrators should implement browser hardening measures including disabling ActiveX controls for untrusted websites and configuring internet explorer security settings to restrict ActiveX behavior. The implementation of web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious input patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and opening suspicious email attachments remains crucial. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts through behavioral analysis and signature-based detection mechanisms. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, particularly for components that interact with user-supplied data in browser environments.