CVE-2007-2827 in LEADTOOLS ISIS ActiveX Control
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in LEAD Technologies LEADTOOLS ISIS ActiveX Control (ltisi14E.ocx) 14.5.0.44 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long DriverName property.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2827 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the LEAD Technologies LEADTOOLS ISIS ActiveX Control version 14.5.0.44 and earlier. This flaw exists in the ltisi14E.ocx component which is part of the broader LEADTOOLS software suite designed for image processing and document management applications. The vulnerability specifically manifests when handling the DriverName property, which is exposed through the ActiveX control interface and can be manipulated by remote attackers through web-based exploitation vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the ActiveX control's handling of the DriverName parameter. When an attacker provides an excessively long string value for this property, the control fails to validate the input length against the allocated buffer size, resulting in a heap-based buffer overflow condition. This memory corruption allows malicious code execution with the privileges of the user running the affected application. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web browsers that support ActiveX controls, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with full system compromise capabilities. The heap overflow can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or system instability. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that automatically trigger the vulnerable ActiveX control when loaded in Internet Explorer, making this a significant threat vector for drive-by download attacks. The vulnerability affects organizations using older versions of LEADTOOLS software, particularly those running legacy systems that have not been updated to patched versions.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest version of LEADTOOLS software where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing ActiveX control restrictions within browser security policies, disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting this specific vulnerability. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes heap-based buffer overflows, and represents a typical attack pattern that maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution through ActiveX controls. Network segmentation and user privilege management should be enhanced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access to affected systems.