CVE-2008-0250 in Visual InterDev
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 (SP6) allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a Studio Solution (.SLN) file with a long Project line.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0250 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 version 6.0 SP6, a legacy integrated development environment designed for web application development. This weakness specifically manifests when the software processes Studio Solution files with the .SLN extension, which are used to manage project configurations and workspace settings. The buffer overflow occurs during the parsing of the Project line within these solution files, creating a potential exploitation vector that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability's user-assisted nature indicates that successful exploitation requires some form of social engineering or user interaction, typically involving the deliberate opening of a maliciously crafted solution file by an unsuspecting victim.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the Visual InterDev application's file parsing mechanism. When processing the Project line in .SLN files, the software fails to properly validate the length of the input data, allowing an attacker to craft a solution file containing an excessively long Project line that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This overflow condition enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and allowing for code injection attacks. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows for memory corruption. The flaw represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where attacker-controlled data exceeds the fixed-size buffer allocated for processing, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to development environments and potentially compromise the entire software development lifecycle. Since Visual InterDev was primarily used for web application development, successful exploitation could lead to the compromise of source code repositories, development servers, and potentially production systems if developers were working on applications that integrated with live environments. The attack vector relies on user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where developers might inadvertently open malicious solution files from untrusted sources. This vulnerability could be exploited through various delivery mechanisms including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised development collaboration platforms, making it a significant risk for organizations maintaining legacy development environments.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation strategies for this vulnerability, including the complete removal of Visual InterDev 6.0 SP6 from all development environments and the implementation of strict file validation policies for solution files. System administrators should enforce application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted .SLN files and consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for any remaining legacy development tools. The remediation approach should align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which focuses on exploitation of software vulnerabilities, and T1059, which addresses execution through command and scripting interfaces. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining instances of Visual InterDev or similar legacy development tools that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions, ensuring that all development environments are properly secured against known vulnerabilities that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks.