CVE-2010-0679 in ChemView
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the HyleosChemView.HLChemView ActiveX control (HyleosChemView.ocx) in Hyleos ChemView 1.9.5.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large number of white space characters in the filename argument to the (1) SaveasMolFile and (2) ReadMolFile methods.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0679 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting the HyleosChemView.HLChemView ActiveX control version 1.9.5.1. This flaw exists within the Hyleos ChemView software suite, which is commonly used for chemical structure visualization and manipulation in enterprise environments. The vulnerability specifically targets two methods within the ActiveX control: SaveasMolFile and ReadMolFile, both of which process filename arguments without adequate input validation or bounds checking. The flaw enables remote code execution when an attacker supplies a filename argument containing an excessive number of whitespace characters, exploiting the lack of proper buffer size validation in the control's implementation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied input within the ActiveX control's method implementations. When the SaveasMolFile and ReadMolFile methods receive filename arguments with excessive whitespace characters, the control fails to validate the input length before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow scenario allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting the instruction pointer and enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a Windows ActiveX control, which typically runs with the privileges of the user who opened the application, often with elevated permissions in corporate environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of Hyleos ChemView, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the buffer overflow through web-based attacks without requiring local access to the target system. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in software, specifically targeting the use of ActiveX controls as attack vectors. The vulnerability also maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes in heap-based buffers.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers, deploying application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of vulnerable components, and applying patches from the vendor when available. System administrators should also monitor network traffic for suspicious activity related to web-based attacks targeting ActiveX controls and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the persistent risks associated with ActiveX controls in enterprise environments and underscores the importance of regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar flaws in legacy software components. Organizations should also consider transitioning away from ActiveX-based technologies in favor of more modern, secure alternatives that provide better memory safety guarantees and reduced attack surface.