CVE-2008-2475 in Enhanced Picture Uploader ActiveX control
Summary
by MITRE
eBay Enhanced Picture Uploader ActiveX control (EPUWALcontrol.dll) before 1.0.27 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the PictureUrls property.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2025
The CVE-2008-2475 vulnerability affects the eBay Enhanced Picture Uploader ActiveX control version 1.0.26 and earlier, specifically targeting the EPUWALcontrol.dll component. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution through improper input validation within the PictureUrls property. The ActiveX control was designed to facilitate picture upload functionality for eBay users, but the implementation contained a dangerous flaw that allowed malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary commands on vulnerable systems.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate validation of the PictureUrls property within the ActiveX control. When a user interacts with the control, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters passed through this property. This creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can craft malicious input that gets processed by the underlying ActiveX component, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. The vulnerability manifests as a classic buffer overflow or command injection scenario, where untrusted input directly influences the execution flow of the application.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments and individual users alike. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web-based interfaces, making it accessible to attackers without requiring local system access. Users visiting compromised websites or clicking on malicious links could unknowingly execute harmful code on their systems. The vulnerability affects Windows systems running Internet Explorer with ActiveX support, making it particularly relevant in corporate environments where ActiveX controls were commonly deployed for enhanced web functionality.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-74 and CWE-94 categories, representing weaknesses in input validation and code injection respectively. The ATT&CK framework would classify this under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of the eBay Enhanced Picture Uploader control to version 1.0.27 or later, as this represents the first fixed release addressing the vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network-based protections such as application whitelisting and ActiveX control restrictions to prevent exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible, implementing strict security policies for ActiveX control deployment, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar flaws in other ActiveX components. The broader implications highlight the dangers of legacy ActiveX controls in modern security environments, where such components often lack proper input validation and security hardening measures. Organizations should also consider transitioning away from ActiveX technologies in favor of more secure modern web standards to reduce the attack surface and eliminate similar vulnerabilities from future exploitation attempts.