CVE-2007-4250 in Advanced Searchbar
Summary
by MITRE
The isChecked function in Toolbar.DLL in Advanced Searchbar before 3.33 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL dereference and browser crash) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4250 resides within the Toolbar.DLL component of Advanced Searchbar software prior to version 3.33, specifically affecting the isChecked function implementation. This flaw represents a classic null pointer dereference vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers to trigger unauthorized denial of service conditions. The issue manifests when the isChecked function attempts to access memory locations without proper validation of input parameters or object states, creating a scenario where the application crashes unpredictably. Such vulnerabilities fall under the broader category of software reliability issues that can severely impact user experience and system stability.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves exploitation through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of toolbar states or search parameters that ultimately lead to the null pointer dereference condition. When the isChecked function processes malformed or unexpected input data, it fails to properly validate whether the referenced objects exist or contain valid memory addresses. This validation failure results in the application attempting to access a NULL memory location, causing an immediate crash and subsequent browser termination. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-476 which describes NULL Pointer Dereference, a well-documented weakness in software security practices. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows remote exploitation without requiring local system access, making it a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to disrupt user browsing sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for end-user systems. When exploited successfully, the denial of service condition can cause complete browser crashes, potentially leading to loss of unsaved work or disruption of critical business processes. Users may experience repeated crashes during normal browsing activities, particularly when interacting with toolbar elements or performing search operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger these conditions from external networks without requiring physical access to target systems. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers Network Denial of Service, and represents a significant risk to user productivity and system availability. Organizations utilizing affected versions of Advanced Searchbar may experience increased support requests and potential security incidents related to browser instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4250 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by the vendor to address the null pointer dereference in the Toolbar.DLL component. Users should upgrade to Advanced Searchbar version 3.33 or later, where the isChecked function has been properly validated to prevent NULL dereference conditions. Security administrators should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary network isolation of affected systems until patches are deployed. Additional defensive measures include browser sandboxing techniques, input validation enforcement, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other browser extensions or toolbars. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, particularly for components that interact with user interfaces and browser functionalities. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious websites that might attempt to exploit such vulnerabilities through drive-by downloads or other social engineering techniques.