CVE-2007-3041 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the pdwizard.ocx ActiveX object for Internet Explorer 5.01, 6 SP1, and 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors related to Microsoft Visual Basic 6 objects and memory corruption, aka "ActiveX Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3041 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the pdwizard.ocx ActiveX control that affected Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5.01, 6 Service Pack 1, and 7. This vulnerability resides in the interaction between the ActiveX component and Microsoft Visual Basic 6 runtime objects, creating a dangerous condition where remote attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The issue stems from improper memory handling within the ActiveX object's implementation, specifically when processing certain input parameters or method calls that lead to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions.
ActiveX controls are software components that enable rich functionality within web browsers, but they also present significant security risks when improperly implemented. The pdwizard.ocx control, like many legacy ActiveX objects, was designed to provide specific wizard functionality within web applications, yet contained implementation flaws that allowed attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted input. This vulnerability specifically relates to how the control handles memory allocation and deallocation, particularly when dealing with Visual Basic 6 objects that are embedded within the ActiveX architecture. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of user-supplied data or method parameters that are not properly validated or sanitized before being passed to underlying memory management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables remote code execution without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a specially crafted web page. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Internet Explorer versions, making it particularly dangerous as it could impact numerous legacy systems that had not yet been updated or migrated to newer browser versions. The attack surface is broad since ActiveX controls were widely deployed in corporate environments and were often enabled by default, creating numerous potential entry points for exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. These classifications reflect the underlying memory corruption mechanisms that allow attackers to overwrite memory locations and potentially redirect program execution flow. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for execution through Visual Basic and T1203 for exploitation of remote services. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1133, which involves external remote services, as attackers can exploit this weakness through web-based delivery mechanisms without requiring physical access to target systems. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management strategies, disable unnecessary ActiveX controls, and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Browser security settings should be configured to restrict ActiveX control loading, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in legacy components.
This vulnerability highlights the inherent risks associated with legacy software components and the challenges of maintaining security in aging software ecosystems. The fact that it affected multiple versions of Internet Explorer demonstrates how deeply integrated ActiveX controls were in the Windows security model, creating widespread exposure when implementation flaws were discovered. The remediation process requires careful consideration of compatibility requirements, as many enterprise applications depended on these ActiveX controls for functionality. Organizations should prioritize migrating away from legacy ActiveX-based solutions toward modern web standards and ensure that security updates are applied promptly to maintain protection against similar vulnerabilities.