CVE-2008-4919 in Expert Pdf Viewer Activex
Summary
by MITRE
Insecure method vulnerability in VISAGESOFT eXPert PDF Viewer X ActiveX control (VSPDFViewerX.ocx) 3.0.990.0 allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a full pathname to the savePageAsBitmap method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4919 represents a critical insecure method flaw within the VISAGESOFT eXPert PDF Viewer X ActiveX control version 3.0.990.0. This ActiveX control, commonly used for PDF document viewing in web applications, exposes a dangerous method called savePageAsBitmap that accepts full pathnames as parameters without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw exists in the control's implementation where user-supplied input is directly passed to file system operations without adequate security checks, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to perform arbitrary file operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ActiveX control's savePageAsBitmap method. When an attacker provides a full pathname as input to this method, the control does not validate whether the path is legitimate or whether the attacker has appropriate permissions to write to that location. This creates a path traversal and arbitrary file overwrite condition that can be exploited to write malicious files to arbitrary locations on the target system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to overwrite existing files or create new files in sensitive system directories, potentially leading to privilege escalation or persistent malware installation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations deploying the affected ActiveX control in their web applications or browser environments. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to overwrite critical system files, install backdoors, or modify legitimate software components to gain persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, phishing emails with embedded ActiveX content, or compromised websites that load the vulnerable control. Given that ActiveX controls are primarily deployed in Windows environments, the attack surface is particularly relevant to enterprise networks where Windows-based systems are prevalent.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 External Control of File Name or Path categories, both of which are classified under the Software Fault Pattern taxonomy. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of remote services and privilege escalation through file system manipulation. The attack can be categorized under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter when considering the potential for command execution through the overwritten files. Organizations should consider implementing strict ActiveX control restrictions, browser security policies, and network segmentation to limit the attack surface. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices when developing ActiveX controls, particularly regarding file system operations and path handling. The affected control should be immediately updated to a patched version or removed from all systems to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability provides attackers with direct file system manipulation capabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.