CVE-2007-6516 in Flic ActiveX Control
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in RavWare Software MAS Flic ActiveX Control (masflc.ocx) 1.0.0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long FileName property.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6516 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the RavWare Software MAS Flic ActiveX Control version 1.0.0.1. This particular ActiveX component, masflc.ocx, is designed to handle FLIC animation files and exposes a dangerous vulnerability through its FileName property handling mechanism. The flaw occurs when the control processes a FileName parameter that exceeds the allocated buffer space, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution privileges on affected systems. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the ActiveX control's improper input validation mechanisms within the FileName property setter function. When an attacker supplies an excessively long string to the FileName parameter, the control fails to perform adequate bounds checking before copying the input data into a fixed-size buffer. This allows the attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control structures within the application's memory space. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of Internet Explorer when the ActiveX control is loaded through web pages, making it easily exploitable via malicious websites or email attachments containing crafted FLIC files. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities in software components to execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to completely compromise affected systems. Successful exploitation can result in full system control, allowing threat actors to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the compromised environment. The vulnerability affects systems running Windows operating systems where the RavWare MAS Flic ActiveX control is installed, particularly those with Internet Explorer configured to automatically load ActiveX controls. Organizations using this control in web applications or corporate environments face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The long-term implications include potential lateral movement within networks and the establishment of persistent threat presence, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to advanced persistent threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6516 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and configuration changes. The primary solution involves uninstalling or disabling the vulnerable masflc.ocx ActiveX control from affected systems, as no official patch was provided by RavWare for this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement browser security configurations that prevent automatic loading of ActiveX controls, particularly those from untrusted sources. Network-level protections can include firewall rules that block access to known malicious domains hosting exploit content, and web application firewalls that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and opening email attachments that might contain malicious FLIC files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining strict control over ActiveX components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that limit the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Regular security assessments should include inventory checks for deprecated ActiveX controls and implementation of application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized software execution.