CVE-2007-4344 in ACDSee
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple input validation errors in ACD ACDSee Photo Manager 9.0 build 108, Pro Photo Manager 8.1 build 99, and Photo Editor 4.0 build 195 allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long section string in (1) a PSP image to the ID_PSP.apl plug-in or (2) an LHA archive to the AM_LHA.apl plug-in, resulting in a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4344 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple versions of ACD Systems' image processing software including ACDSee Photo Manager 9.0 build 108, Pro Photo Manager 8.1 build 99, and Photo Editor 4.0 build 195. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the software's plugin architecture, specifically within the ID_PSP.apl and AM_LHA.apl plugins that handle PSP image files and LHA archive formats respectively. The flaw manifests when these plugins process specially crafted malicious input containing excessively long section strings that exceed the allocated buffer space, creating conditions ripe for arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic heap-based buffer overflow pattern where the software fails to properly validate the length of input data before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers. When processing PSP image files through the ID_PSP.apl plugin or LHA archives through the AM_LHA.apl plugin, the applications do not adequately check the size of section strings within these file formats. This allows attackers to craft malicious files containing oversized section data that overflows the allocated heap memory, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations and corrupting program execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the application's plugin system, which typically runs with the privileges of the user who opened the malicious file.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who may inadvertently open maliciously crafted image or archive files, particularly in environments where users have limited security awareness or where automated file processing occurs. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing systems without requiring local access to the target system. The user-assisted nature of the attack implies that successful exploitation requires some form of user interaction, such as opening a malicious file, but the actual execution of arbitrary code occurs within the vulnerable application's memory space. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on execution through application plugins and file processing components.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate software updates and patches provided by ACD Systems, as well as implementing defensive measures such as restricting file type handling in enterprise environments and employing sandboxing techniques for image file processing. Organizations should also consider implementing file validation policies that scan for known malicious file patterns and restrict the execution of plugins or file handlers for potentially dangerous formats. Additionally, network-level controls such as content filtering and email scanning can help prevent the delivery of malicious files that exploit this vulnerability, while regular security assessments should verify that all image processing software components are properly patched and maintained against known vulnerabilities.