CVE-2007-2921 in ActiveCGM Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in acgm.dll in the Corel / Micrografx ActiveCGM Browser ActiveX control before 7.1.4.19 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2921 represents a critical security flaw within the Corel Micrografx ActiveCGM Browser ActiveX control, specifically in the acgm.dll component. This issue affects versions prior to 7.1.4.19 and constitutes a buffer overflow vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The ActiveCGM Browser control is designed to handle Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) formatted graphics files, which are commonly used for vector graphics representation in business and technical applications. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities in ActiveX controls are particularly dangerous because they can be triggered through web browsers when users view malicious web pages containing specially crafted CGM files, making the attack vector both widespread and easily exploitable.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the acgm.dll library when processing certain CGM file structures. When the ActiveX control attempts to parse malformed or specially constructed CGM data, it fails to validate the size of input buffers, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption typically occurs in the stack or heap memory regions where the control stores program execution state, potentially allowing an attacker to redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected into the memory space. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack scenarios exist, including various CGM file structures or parsing methods that can trigger the overflow condition, making the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against completely.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-2921 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure where ActiveX controls are commonly deployed. Organizations using Corel or Micrografx software products in their business environments face potential compromise of user systems through web-based attacks, particularly in environments where users may inadvertently visit malicious websites or receive compromised email attachments containing malicious CGM files. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripting and T1203 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in ActiveX components. These attacks can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access to affected networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected ActiveX control to version 7.1.4.19 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should implement browser security policies that restrict ActiveX control loading and disable unnecessary ActiveX components in web browsers. Network-based defenses should include web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block malicious CGM file content. Additionally, organizations should conduct security awareness training for users to recognize potentially malicious web content and implement the principle of least privilege for ActiveX control execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, particularly for components that process external data formats, and serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for security testing and vulnerability management in enterprise software ecosystems.