CVE-2008-1605 in Multimedia Toolkit
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) ltmmCaptureCtrl Class, (2) ltmmConvertCtrl Class, and (3) ltmmPlayCtrl Class ActiveX controls (ltmm15.dll 15.1.0.17 and earlier) in LEADTOOLS Multimedia Toolkit 15 allow attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via the SaveSettingsToFile method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1605 affects the LEADTOOLS Multimedia Toolkit 15 ActiveX controls, specifically targeting three critical classes including ltmmCaptureCtrl, ltmmConvertCtrl, and ltmmPlayCtrl. These controls utilize the ltmm15.dll library version 15.1.0.17 and earlier, which contain a dangerous flaw in the SaveSettingsToFile method that enables arbitrary file overwrites. This vulnerability represents a classic path traversal and file manipulation issue that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical flaw resides in the improper validation of file paths within the SaveSettingsToFile method implementation. When attackers invoke this method with specially crafted parameters, the ActiveX controls fail to properly sanitize or validate the destination file paths, allowing them to specify arbitrary locations on the target system. This vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal file system access controls and overwrite files in locations where the application has write permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be exploited to overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or user data without proper authorization. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute various malicious activities including but not limited to replacing legitimate executable files with malicious versions, modifying system configurations, or corrupting important data files. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where ActiveX controls are enabled and users have administrative privileges, as the exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. This issue can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter, as the compromised system may allow execution of malicious code through the overwritten files.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires social engineering to convince users to interact with malicious web content containing the vulnerable ActiveX controls. Once executed, the attacker can specify file paths that lead to critical system locations, potentially enabling privilege escalation or persistent access. Organizations running affected versions of LEADTOOLS Multimedia Toolkit should immediately implement mitigations including disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, applying vendor patches when available, and implementing strict access controls to limit file system write permissions for multimedia applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in ActiveX control development, particularly when handling file system operations that involve user-supplied data.