CVE-2007-3829 in ActiveX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in (a) InterActual Player 2.60.12.0717 and (b) Roxio CinePlayer 3.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a (1) long FailURL attribute in the IAMCE ActiveX Control (IAMCE.dll) or a (2) long URLCode attribute in the IAKey ActiveX Control (IAKey.dll). NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3829 represents a critical security flaw affecting multimedia player applications that utilize ActiveX controls for extended functionality. This issue impacts both InterActual Player version 2.60.12.0717 and Roxio CinePlayer version 3.2, specifically through their respective ActiveX components IAMCE.dll and IAKey.dll. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within these controls, creating conditions where maliciously crafted input can trigger memory corruption that leads to arbitrary code execution. The flaw manifests when the applications process specially crafted attributes within media files, particularly the FailURL attribute in IAMCE.dll and the URLCode attribute in IAKey.dll, both of which are susceptible to stack-based buffer overflow conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits fundamental memory management weaknesses in the affected ActiveX controls. When processing media files containing excessively long strings in the FailURL or URLCode attributes, the applications fail to properly validate input lengths before copying data to fixed-size stack buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data, potentially enabling complete system compromise. The stack-based nature of the overflow means that the attack occurs within the program's stack memory space, making it particularly dangerous as it can directly manipulate the program execution flow. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that falls under the broader category of memory safety issues in software development practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with potential full system compromise capabilities within the context of the victim's security environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or further network exploitation. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous for users who might encounter malicious media files through web browsing, email attachments, or file downloads. The vulnerability affects systems where these specific ActiveX controls are installed and enabled, which typically includes Windows operating systems with Internet Explorer configured to execute ActiveX content. This creates a substantial attack surface for threat actors who can craft malicious media files or web content to deliver the exploit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3829 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and security configuration changes. Organizations should prioritize updating to versions of InterActual Player and Roxio CinePlayer that contain patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions in their ActiveX controls. Additionally, implementing browser security restrictions that disable ActiveX controls or restrict their execution can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security administrators should consider disabling ActiveX controls entirely unless absolutely required for business operations, particularly in enterprise environments where user access to potentially malicious content is possible. The implementation of application whitelisting policies can further prevent execution of vulnerable ActiveX components, while network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious ActiveX-related traffic patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through ActiveX controls and memory corruption, representing a common vector for initial access and privilege escalation within targeted environments.