Vulnerabilities > CVE-2007-5144 - Buffer Errors vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Live Messenger 8.1

047910
CVSS 4.3 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
MEDIUM
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
NONE
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
PARTIAL

Summary

Buffer overflow in the GDI engine in Windows Live Messenger, as used for Windows MSN Live 8.1, allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash or system crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code by placing a malformed file in a new folder under the Sharing Folders path, and triggering a synchronize operation through the Windows MSN Live online service, possibly related to extended file attributes and possibly related to an incomplete fix for MS07-046, as demonstrated by a (1) .jpg, (2) .gif, (3) .wmf, (4) .doc, or (5) .ico file.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Microsoft
1

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Buffer Overflow via Environment Variables
    This attack pattern involves causing a buffer overflow through manipulation of environment variables. Once the attacker finds that they can modify an environment variable, they may try to overflow associated buffers. This attack leverages implicit trust often placed in environment variables.
  • Overflow Buffers
    Buffer Overflow attacks target improper or missing bounds checking on buffer operations, typically triggered by input injected by an attacker. As a consequence, an attacker is able to write past the boundaries of allocated buffer regions in memory, causing a program crash or potentially redirection of execution as per the attackers' choice.
  • Client-side Injection-induced Buffer Overflow
    This type of attack exploits a buffer overflow vulnerability in targeted client software through injection of malicious content from a custom-built hostile service.
  • Filter Failure through Buffer Overflow
    In this attack, the idea is to cause an active filter to fail by causing an oversized transaction. An attacker may try to feed overly long input strings to the program in an attempt to overwhelm the filter (by causing a buffer overflow) and hoping that the filter does not fail securely (i.e. the user input is let into the system unfiltered).
  • MIME Conversion
    An attacker exploits a weakness in the MIME conversion routine to cause a buffer overflow and gain control over the mail server machine. The MIME system is designed to allow various different information formats to be interpreted and sent via e-mail. Attack points exist when data are converted to MIME compatible format and back.