CVE-2007-4515 in Yahoo!
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in a certain ActiveX control in YVerInfo.dll before 2007.8.27.1 in the Yahoo! services suite for Yahoo! Messenger before 8.1.0.419 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors involving arguments to the (1) fvCom and (2) info methods. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
This vulnerability exists within the Yahoo! Messenger services suite, specifically in the YVerInfo.dll ActiveX control which was vulnerable prior to version 2007.8.27.1. The flaw manifests as a buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing arguments passed to the fvCom and info methods of the control. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities represent a critical class of security flaws that occur when more data is written to a fixed-length buffer than it can accommodate, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, specifically representing a classic stack-based buffer overflow that can result in arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves remote attackers who can trigger the buffer overflow by crafting malicious arguments to the affected methods within the ActiveX control. When these methods process the malformed input data, the excessive data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially overwriting critical program execution structures such as return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow to malicious code injected by the attacker, effectively allowing for remote code execution on vulnerable systems. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates through an ActiveX control, which means it can be executed automatically when users visit compromised web pages or download malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the affected system's security posture. Since the vulnerability affects a component that is part of the Yahoo! Messenger application, which was widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, the potential for widespread exploitation was significant. The attack requires no local privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for users who may inadvertently visit malicious websites or receive compromised instant messages. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a reliable means of gaining persistent access to target systems, potentially enabling further reconnaissance, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within network environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling the vulnerable ActiveX control through group policy settings or browser security configurations, updating to patched versions of Yahoo! Messenger, and monitoring network traffic for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly when dealing with ActiveX controls and COM objects that are exposed to untrusted input sources. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability demonstrates the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of potentially malicious code. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious ActiveX control usage patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The incident also underscores the critical need for regular security assessments of third-party applications and their components, as the vulnerability originated from a widely distributed commercial software suite that was not properly secured against buffer overflow attacks.