CVE-2009-2500 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in GDI+ in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 SP1, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Office XP SP3, Office 2003 SP3, 2007 Microsoft Office System SP1 and SP2, Office Project 2002 SP1, Visio 2002 SP2, Office Word Viewer, Word Viewer 2003 Gold and SP3, Office Excel Viewer 2003 Gold and SP3, Office Excel Viewer, Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 Gold, SP1, and SP2, Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats SP1 and SP2, Expression Web, Expression Web 2, Groove 2007 Gold and SP1, Works 8.5, SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services SP2, SQL Server 2005 SP2 and SP3, Report Viewer 2005 SP1, Report Viewer 2008 Gold and SP1, and Forefront Client Security 1.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted WMF image file, aka "GDI+ WMF Integer Overflow Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2021
The CVE-2009-2500 vulnerability represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Graphics Device Interface Plus GDI+ component of Microsoft Windows operating systems and Office applications. This vulnerability specifically affects the processing of Windows Metafile (WMF) image formats, which are commonly used for vector graphics in various Microsoft products. The flaw exists in how GDI+ handles integer arithmetic when parsing WMF files, creating conditions where maliciously crafted image data can cause integer overflows that lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Microsoft products including Internet Explorer 6 SP1, Windows XP SP2 and SP3, Office XP SP3, Office 2003 SP3, 2007 Microsoft Office System SP1 and SP2, and numerous other applications that utilize GDI+ for graphics processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the WMF parsing routines of GDI+. When a malformed WMF file is processed, the integer overflow occurs during calculations related to buffer allocation or size determination for image data structures. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and specifically relates to CWE-129, which addresses insufficient bounds checking. The overflow typically manifests when the application attempts to allocate memory based on calculated dimensions from the WMF header fields, where malicious input causes these values to exceed the maximum representable integer, resulting in unexpected behavior. Attackers can exploit this by crafting WMF files with carefully manipulated header values that trigger the overflow condition during image rendering, potentially allowing them to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-2500 is severe and far-reaching due to the widespread adoption of affected Microsoft products across enterprise environments. The vulnerability enables remote code execution without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as users can be compromised simply by viewing a malicious WMF image in any application that supports the format. This characteristic places the vulnerability within the ATT&CK framework under T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter. The attack surface includes not only web browsers but also Office applications, viewers, and server products like SQL Server Reporting Services, making it a prime target for zero-day exploits. Organizations running affected systems face significant risk of full system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within their networks, as the vulnerability can be exploited through email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2500 require a multi-layered approach combining immediate patching, network-based defenses, and application hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates for all affected products, and administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all systems to eliminate the vulnerability. Network administrators should implement content filtering solutions that block WMF files at network boundaries, particularly in email gateways and web proxies, as this represents an effective defensive measure when patching cannot be immediately deployed. Additional mitigations include disabling automatic image rendering in web browsers, implementing application whitelisting policies, and configuring Office applications to open files in safe mode. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly in graphics processing libraries, and organizations should review their software development lifecycle processes to ensure proper bounds checking and integer overflow protection. Given the historical nature of this vulnerability and its widespread impact, comprehensive vulnerability management programs should include regular assessments of legacy systems and proper retirement planning for unsupported software versions.