CVE-2008-7122 in Registry Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple insecure method vulnerabilities in an ActiveX control in (epRegPro.ocx) in Evans Programming Registry Pro allow remote attackers to read and modify sensitive registry keys via the (1) About, (2) CreateKey, (3) DeleteBranch, (4) DeleteKey, (5) DeleteValue, (6) EnumKeys, (7) EnumValues, (8) QueryType, (9) QueryValue, (10) RenameKey, and (11) SetValue methods.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2024
The CVE-2008-7122 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Evans Programming Registry Pro ActiveX control, specifically within the epRegPro.ocx component. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege escalation mechanisms within the control's exposed methods, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the Windows registry through insecure method implementations. The affected ActiveX control exposes eleven distinct methods that directly interact with registry operations, making it a prime target for exploitation in environments where ActiveX controls are enabled and trusted.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the insecure handling of registry operations through the exposed ActiveX methods. Attackers can leverage the About, CreateKey, DeleteBranch, DeleteKey, DeleteValue, EnumKeys, EnumValues, QueryType, QueryValue, RenameKey, and SetValue methods to perform unauthorized registry modifications. These methods lack proper access control checks, input sanitization, and privilege validation, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary registry operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level, enabling attackers to modify sensitive registry keys that control system behavior, user permissions, and application configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple registry manipulation, creating potential for privilege escalation and system compromise. Remote attackers can utilize these insecure methods to modify critical registry entries, potentially enabling persistent backdoors, disabling security features, or altering system configurations to maintain unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects Windows systems where the Evans Programming Registry Pro ActiveX control is installed and ActiveX controls are enabled in web browsers or applications. This creates a significant risk in enterprise environments where ActiveX controls might be enabled by default or through user configuration, exposing systems to remote exploitation without proper security boundaries.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insecure method exposure in ActiveX controls, mapping to CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) and CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting). The attack patterns align with MITRE ATT&CK techniques including T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) when attackers leverage these methods to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, removing the vulnerable epRegPro.ocx component from systems, and implementing strict access controls for registry operations. Additionally, network segmentation and application whitelisting can help prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should identify other potentially vulnerable ActiveX controls in the environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and privilege separation in component-based security architectures, particularly when dealing with system-level operations that can be exposed through web interfaces or browser plugins.