CVE-2007-3148 in Yahoo!
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Yahoo! Webcam Viewer ActiveX control in ywcvwr.dll 2.0.1.4 for Yahoo! Messenger 8.1.0.249 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long server property value to the receive method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The CVE-2007-3148 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Yahoo Messenger 8.1.0.249. This vulnerability specifically affects the ywcvwr.dll library version 2.0.1.4 and exposes a dangerous security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The flaw manifests when the ActiveX control processes a specially crafted server property value through its receive method, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged for malicious purposes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ActiveX control's implementation. When the receive method processes a server property value that exceeds the allocated buffer size, it fails to properly handle the overflow condition, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This buffer overflow condition creates an opportunity for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the user's session. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented and dangerous class of security flaws that have been extensively studied in the cybersecurity community.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including privilege escalation, system compromise, and data exfiltration. Since the vulnerability exists within an ActiveX control that is typically executed in web browser contexts, attackers can leverage this flaw through malicious web pages or email attachments that automatically trigger the vulnerable component. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Yahoo! Messenger was widely distributed and used, making this vulnerability potentially accessible to a large number of users. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability represents a technique for privilege escalation and execution through malicious code injection, specifically categorized under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Yahoo Messenger are updated to versions that contain fixed implementations of the ywcvwr.dll component. Additionally, organizations should implement browser security policies that restrict ActiveX control execution or disable them entirely for untrusted websites. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in software development practices, particularly for components that are exposed to untrusted input from network sources. Security professionals should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this specific buffer overflow condition through anomalous network traffic patterns or suspicious ActiveX behavior. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it represents a classic example of why security-by-design principles are essential in software development and why regular security assessments of third-party components are critical for maintaining secure computing environments.