CVE-2007-4963 in WinImage
Summary
by MITRE
Visual truncation vulnerability in WinImage 8.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to spoof a destination filename via a long sequence of space characters in a filename within a (1) .IMG or (2) .ISO file. NOTE: this can be leveraged with a separate directory traversal vulnerability to trick a careful user into overwriting arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4963 represents a visual truncation issue within WinImage version 8.10 and earlier, which creates a security risk through filename manipulation. This flaw specifically affects the handling of filenames within .IMG and .ISO file formats, where attackers can exploit the software's inability to properly render or process excessively long sequences of space characters. The vulnerability stems from how the application processes and displays filenames, creating a discrepancy between the actual file name stored in the archive and how it appears to users during extraction or browsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of filename sequences within archive files, where attackers insert long strings of space characters that cause visual truncation in the WinImage interface. When the application processes these filenames, it may truncate or mask the actual filename structure, leading to misleading visual representations that can deceive users into believing they are operating on one file while actually targeting another. This visual deception occurs because the software's display mechanism fails to properly handle the extended spacing sequences, creating a false sense of security during file operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4963 extends beyond simple visual confusion to potentially enable more serious attacks when combined with other vulnerabilities. Security researchers have noted that this flaw can be leveraged in conjunction with directory traversal vulnerabilities to create sophisticated attack vectors. When combined with directory traversal capabilities, attackers can craft malicious .IMG or .ISO files that appear to contain benign filenames but actually target arbitrary system locations during extraction. This combination creates a scenario where users may be tricked into overwriting critical system files or executing malicious operations under the false impression that they are performing legitimate file operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-174, which addresses the weakness of insufficient input validation in software applications. It also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves the execution of malicious code through crafted file formats, and T1566, which encompasses social engineering attacks that manipulate user perception through deceptive file naming. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it exploits user trust in familiar file operations, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4963 require both immediate software updates and operational security improvements. Organizations should immediately upgrade to WinImage versions that address this visual truncation vulnerability, as the original affected versions are no longer supported. Additionally, security teams should implement strict file validation procedures for archive files, particularly those from untrusted sources. Network administrators should consider deploying content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious filename patterns within archive files. User education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying file operations and being cautious when extracting files from unknown sources, as the visual deception makes this vulnerability particularly difficult to detect through standard security awareness training.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input handling and display validation in security-critical applications. This issue demonstrates how seemingly minor display flaws can create significant security risks when combined with other attack vectors, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing that includes edge cases involving input manipulation and visual representation handling. Organizations should consider implementing automated tools that can detect and flag potentially malicious filename sequences during archive processing, particularly in environments where users may be exposed to untrusted file content.