CVE-2010-4742 in ActiveX SDK
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in a certain ActiveX control in MediaDBPlayback.DLL 2.2.0.5 in the Moxa ActiveX SDK allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long PlayFileName property value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4742 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the MediaDBPlayback.DLL ActiveX control version 2.2.0.5 of the Moxa ActiveX SDK. This flaw exists in the handling of the PlayFileName property, which is designed to accept file path specifications for media playback operations. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker provides an excessively long string value to the PlayFileName property, causing the control to write beyond the allocated stack buffer space. This type of buffer overflow directly violates the fundamental security principle of memory bounds checking and creates a predictable exploitation vector for remote code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ActiveX control's property handling mechanism. When the PlayFileName property receives a malformed input string, the control fails to perform adequate bounds checking before copying the string data into a fixed-size stack buffer. This omission allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations including return addresses and function pointers, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the compromised process. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is particularly dangerous due to its potential for direct memory corruption and privilege escalation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems running the affected Moxa ActiveX SDK components, particularly in enterprise environments where ActiveX controls are commonly deployed for multimedia applications. The remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability through web-based attacks without requiring local system access, making it particularly attractive for widespread exploitation campaigns. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow attackers to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further network infiltration activities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4742 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Moxa ActiveX SDK components to address the buffer overflow in MediaDBPlayback.DLL. Organizations should implement comprehensive network segmentation to limit exposure of systems running ActiveX controls, particularly those with elevated privileges. Browser security configurations should be adjusted to disable ActiveX controls or restrict their functionality to trusted zones only. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention can provide defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potentially affected ActiveX controls within the organization's attack surface, as similar vulnerabilities may exist in other components of the Moxa SDK or related multimedia frameworks.