CVE-2007-6332 in Quick Launch Button
Summary
by MITRE
The HPInfoDLL.HPInfo.1 ActiveX control in HPInfoDLL.dll 1.0, as shipped with HP Info Center (hpinfocenter.exe) 1.0.1.1 in HP Quick Launch Button (QLBCTRL.exe, aka QLB) 6.3 and earlier, on Microsoft Windows before Vista allows remote attackers to create or modify arbitrary registry values via the arguments to the SetRegValue method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6332 represents a critical security flaw in the HP Info Center component of HP Quick Launch Button software versions 6.3 and earlier. This issue affects Microsoft Windows systems prior to Vista and stems from the improper implementation of the HPInfoDLL.HPInfo.1 ActiveX control within the HPInfoDLL.dll library version 1.0. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the SetRegValue method which lacks proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to exploit the control remotely and manipulate the Windows registry.
The technical flaw resides in the ActiveX control's handling of user-supplied arguments passed to the SetRegValue method. When an attacker crafts malicious input parameters, the control accepts these inputs without adequate verification, enabling arbitrary registry modifications. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where untrusted input flows directly into system-level operations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and more specifically aligns with CWE-79, input validation and filtering issues that can lead to registry manipulation. The attack vector leverages the inherent trust placed in ActiveX controls within web browsers, allowing remote exploitation through malicious web content or social engineering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple registry modification, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold on compromised systems. Successful exploitation enables adversaries to alter critical registry entries that control system behavior, potentially leading to privilege escalation, persistence mechanisms, or system instability. The vulnerability affects systems running Windows versions before Vista, which were prevalent in enterprise environments during that timeframe, making the attack surface particularly large. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1112 (Modify Registry) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers can use registry modifications to establish persistence and execute malicious code. The attack chain typically involves delivering malicious content that triggers the vulnerable ActiveX control, which then executes with the privileges of the user browsing the malicious site.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6332 should focus on immediate remediation through official HP patches and updates, as well as implementing browser security measures to restrict ActiveX control execution. Organizations should disable ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible, implement application whitelisting policies, and conduct thorough system audits to detect any unauthorized registry modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in component design and highlights the risks associated with legacy software components that may contain unpatched security flaws. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring for unusual registry activity can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other ActiveX controls or software components.