CVE-2007-2623 in Remote Display Development Kit
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in RControl.dll in Remote Display Dev kit 1.2.1.0 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Internet Explorer 7 crash) via (1) a long first argument to the connect function or (2) a long InternalServer property value, possibly involving ntdll.dll.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2623 represents a critical buffer overflow issue within the RControl.dll component of the Remote Display Development Kit version 1.2.1.0. This flaw specifically affects Internet Explorer 7 users who encounter the vulnerable ActiveX control during web browsing sessions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Remote Display Development Kit's communication protocols, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt normal system operations. The affected software component serves as a bridge between remote display functionalities and web browser environments, making it a prime target for exploitation through web-based attack vectors. The vulnerability impacts the stability and reliability of web browsing sessions when the vulnerable ActiveX control is loaded or interacted with during normal user operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit different properties within the RControl.dll module. The first vector involves crafting a maliciously long first argument to the connect function, while the second vector targets the InternalServer property value of the vulnerable component. Both attack paths ultimately result in buffer overflow conditions that corrupt memory structures within the target process. When these malformed inputs are processed by the vulnerable RControl.dll library, they cause the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability. The overflow conditions specifically involve the manipulation of memory regions managed by ntdll.dll, which serves as the core Windows NT runtime library responsible for system-level operations and memory management. The interaction between these components creates a cascading effect that can trigger immediate application crashes and system failures.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2623 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to cause complete browser crashes and potentially more severe system instability. When Internet Explorer 7 encounters the vulnerable ActiveX control with malicious input parameters, the browser process experiences abrupt termination due to memory corruption. This behavior creates a persistent threat to user productivity and system availability, particularly in enterprise environments where browser-based applications are extensively utilized. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger these conditions without requiring physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios. The impact is further amplified by the fact that the vulnerability affects a widely deployed component within the Windows ecosystem, increasing the potential attack surface and the number of vulnerable systems. The use of ntdll.dll in the exploitation process indicates that the vulnerability affects core Windows operating system components, potentially leading to broader system instability beyond just browser applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-2623 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and configuration changes that prevent exploitation of the vulnerable ActiveX control. Organizations should prioritize patching the Remote Display Development Kit to a version that addresses the buffer overflow conditions in RControl.dll, ensuring that input validation mechanisms are properly implemented. System administrators should consider disabling the vulnerable ActiveX control through browser security settings or group policy configurations to prevent automatic loading of the component. The implementation of application whitelisting policies can help prevent execution of untrusted ActiveX controls that may contain similar vulnerabilities. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring and blocking suspicious input patterns that match the vulnerability characteristics. Security monitoring should include detection of attempts to access the vulnerable connect function or manipulate the InternalServer property, as these activities may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows, while the attack vector maps to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1203 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interfaces.