CVE-2007-2744

Vulnerability

The PrecisionID Barcode 1.9 ActiveX control (PrecisionID_Barcode.dll) contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the SaveBarCode method. This occurs when a long string argument is passed to the method, overwriting the stack buffer. The control is marked as safe for scripting, allowing remote exploitation via Internet Explorer. This issue was disclosed in May 2007, and the vendor released version 1.9 which is still vulnerable. The issue might overlap with CVE-2007-2657 [1].

Exploitation

An attacker can host a malicious web page that embeds the vulnerable ActiveX control and calls the SaveBarCode method with an overly long string. No authentication or user interaction beyond visiting the page is required, as the control is marked safe for scripting. The exploit was demonstrated against Internet Explorer 6; on IE7 the browser stops responding. The exact sequence involves crafting a specially crafted HTML/JavaScript that invokes the method with a long argument, triggering the overflow [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation can cause a denial of service (browser crash) and potentially lead to arbitrary code execution on the victim's system. The attacker could execute arbitrary commands, install malware, or take over the user's machine. On IE7, the browser becomes unresponsive [1].

Mitigation

No vendor patch or fixed version has been identified as of the public disclosure date (May 2007). Users are advised to disable the PrecisionID Barcode ActiveX control in Internet Explorer or uninstall the software. The control may be blocked via the kill-bit or security zones. This issue is not listed on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.