CVE-2007-6009 in Photo Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in ACD products allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long section string in a (1) XBM or (2) XPM file to (a) ID_X.apl or (b) IDE_ACDStd.apl. NOTE: the PSP and LHA vectors are already covered by CVE-2007-4344 and CVE-2007-6007. NOTE: these might be integer overflows rather than buffer overflows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6009 represents a critical security flaw affecting ACD products that manifests through multiple buffer overflow conditions. This vulnerability specifically targets the processing of XBM and XPM image files within the ID_X.apl and IDE_ACDStd.apl components of the affected software suite. The flaw enables user-assisted remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of these applications, creating a significant threat vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the parsing routines of the ACD products. When processing maliciously crafted XBM or XPM files containing excessively long section strings, the software fails to properly bounds-check the input data before attempting to store it in fixed-size memory buffers. This fundamental flaw allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling code injection attacks. The vulnerability's classification as potentially involving integer overflows rather than traditional buffer overflows suggests that the underlying issue may involve arithmetic operations that result in insufficient buffer allocation or incorrect memory handling.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-6009 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it represents a remote code execution vulnerability that can be exploited without user interaction beyond the initial delivery of malicious files. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to affected systems, potentially establishing persistent backdoors or deploying additional malware. The fact that this vulnerability affects standard image processing components makes it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal file handling operations, including email attachments, web downloads, or file transfers from untrusted sources. This vector of exploitation aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack framework, where file format vulnerabilities serve as initial compromise points for broader system infiltration.
Security practitioners should consider implementing multiple layers of defense when addressing this vulnerability, including immediate patching of affected ACD products, network segmentation to limit exposure, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious file processing activities. The vulnerability's characteristics align with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through file format vulnerabilities and privilege escalation through code injection, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such applications may be widely deployed. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting user access to potentially vulnerable file processing functions to mitigate the risk of exploitation.