CVE-2019-25463 in SpotIE Internet Explorer Password Recovery
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2026
SpotIE Internet Explorer Password Recovery 2.9.5 contains a denial of service vulnerability in the registration key input field that allows local attackers to crash the application by supplying an excessively long string. Attackers can paste a 256-character payload into the Key field during registration to trigger a buffer overflow and crash the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25463 affects SpotIE Internet Explorer Password Recovery version 2.9.5, a password recovery tool designed to extract saved passwords from internet explorer. This application falls under the category of password management utilities that handle sensitive authentication data, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise user credentials. The flaw manifests in the application's registration key validation mechanism, where insufficient input length checking creates a critical security weakness that can be exploited through a straightforward denial of service attack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a classic buffer overflow condition in the registration key input field processing. When attackers supply a 256-character payload into the Key field during the registration process, the application fails to properly validate or limit the input length, allowing an excessive amount of data to be written beyond the allocated buffer space. This buffer overflow condition occurs because the software does not implement proper bounds checking mechanisms to prevent data from exceeding the designated memory allocation for the key input field. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks within the context of password recovery tools. Local attackers who can execute code on the target system gain the ability to cause arbitrary application crashes, potentially disrupting legitimate user access to password recovery functionality. This denial of service condition could be exploited as part of a broader attack strategy where attackers first destabilize security tools to create confusion or as a precursor to more advanced exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's local attack requirement means that attackers must already have access to the system to exploit it, but this limitation does not diminish its potential impact on system availability and user productivity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-25463 should focus on immediate software updates and input validation improvements. Users should upgrade to the latest version of SpotIE Internet Explorer Password Recovery where the buffer overflow vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should implement proper input validation controls that enforce strict length limitations on all user-supplied data, particularly in registration and authentication fields. The implementation of defensive programming practices including bounds checking, input sanitization, and proper memory management should be enforced throughout the application's codebase. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting controls to prevent unauthorized versions of the software from running on enterprise systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques related to privilege escalation and denial of service, where attackers leverage application weaknesses to compromise system availability and potentially gain further access to sensitive information stored in password recovery tools.