CVE-2007-4472 in Expressit 3DGreetings Player
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in the Broderbund Expressit 3DGreetings Player ActiveX control could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The CVE-2007-4472 vulnerability targets the Broderbund Expressit 3DGreetings Player ActiveX control, a component commonly found in legacy software environments. This particular ActiveX control was designed to play 3D greeting cards and multimedia content within web browsers, particularly those running on windows operating systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the control's implementation, creating conditions where memory corruption can occur when processing malformed input data. Such buffer overflow conditions represent a critical security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges on affected systems. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where the ActiveX control is installed and enabled, typically in corporate environments or user workstations running older versions of windows operating systems.
The technical flaw manifests as multiple buffer overflow conditions within the ActiveX control's processing routines, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write data beyond the allocated memory buffers. This memory corruption occurs when the control processes specially crafted input parameters or multimedia content that exceeds the expected buffer sizes. The vulnerability can be triggered through web pages that embed the malicious ActiveX control, potentially through drive-by download scenarios or crafted web content. Attackers can leverage these buffer overflows to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses or function pointers, enabling them to redirect execution flow to malicious code. The nature of ActiveX controls running within browser contexts makes these vulnerabilities particularly dangerous as they can be exploited without user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, representing a classic remote code execution vector that aligns with CWE-121 buffer overflow conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access. Attackers can leverage the buffer overflows to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or establish command and control channels. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may browse untrusted websites. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities can result in privilege escalation, as ActiveX controls often run with elevated privileges when installed on user systems. This represents a significant concern from an enterprise security perspective, as these controls may be present on numerous endpoints without proper security controls in place. The vulnerability also demonstrates the risks associated with legacy ActiveX controls that are no longer supported or maintained, as they often contain unpatched security flaws that remain exploitable in modern environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4472 should focus on immediate removal of the vulnerable ActiveX control from affected systems, as patching is not available for this legacy software. Organizations should implement browser security policies that disable ActiveX controls or restrict their execution to trusted sites only. Network-based controls such as firewall rules and web application firewalls can help prevent access to known malicious content that might trigger these vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running the affected software and ensure that appropriate remediation measures are implemented. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventories and implementing proper application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted ActiveX controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving remote code execution and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that include network segmentation, user access controls, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of legacy software vulnerabilities.