CVE-2009-1059 in PowerZip
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Trident PowerZip 7.2 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .zip file. NOTE: CVE has not investigated whether the specified file.zip file can be used for exploitation of this product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1059 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within Trident PowerZip version 7.2 software. This security weakness arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms when processing compressed archive files, specifically targeting the software's handling of .zip file formats. The buffer overflow occurs in the memory management routines responsible for decompressing and extracting archive contents, creating a potential exploitation vector for remote attackers seeking to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during the decompression process of zip archives. When the PowerZip application encounters a specially crafted zip file, the software fails to properly validate the size and structure of compressed data before attempting to copy it into fixed-size memory buffers. This fundamental flaw in input sanitization creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and allowing arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically manifests during the extraction phase when the application processes malformed or oversized archive entries that exceed allocated buffer boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on Trident PowerZip for file management and archive handling. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by distributing malicious zip files that, when opened or extracted through the vulnerable software, trigger the buffer overflow condition. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local privileges or user interaction beyond opening the malicious archive, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data theft, or deployment of additional malicious payloads.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes stack-based buffer overflow conditions as a fundamental memory safety issue. This classification places the flaw within the broader context of software security weaknesses that have historically enabled numerous high-impact attacks. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing arbitrary code within the target system's context. Organizations should consider implementing network-based mitigations such as zip file content filtering, application whitelisting, and mandatory access controls to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1059 should prioritize immediate software updates from Trident PowerZip vendor to address the identified buffer overflow condition. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of the vulnerable software are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include deploying file integrity monitoring solutions, configuring email and web proxies to scan zip archives for suspicious content patterns, and establishing strict access controls around systems processing untrusted archive files. Network segmentation and privilege separation can further reduce the potential impact should exploitation occur, while regular security assessments should verify that no other applications within the environment share similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring to detect anomalous execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.