CVE-2004-0978

Heap-based buffer overflow in the Hrtbeat.ocx (Heartbeat) ActiveX control for Internet Explorer 5.01 through 6, when users who visit online gaming sites that…

published October 21, 2004

CVSS
—
EPSS
38%
Percentile
98.6
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A seemingly innocent ActiveX control in Internet Explorer can turn into a hacker's playground with just a misused parameter! 🔥 Think of this like a video game door that opens the moment someone yells out the secret code — if you don't have the bouncer checking the codes, anyone can waltz right in! 🎮 This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on your system, potentially leading to a complete takeover. It’s like giving a stranger your game console and letting them play however they want — they could steal your account information or mess up your settings!

Put simply

Think of this like a video game door that opens the moment someone yells out the secret code — if you don't have the bouncer checking the codes, anyone can waltz right in! 🎮 The heap-based buffer overflow in the Heartbeat ActiveX control allows attackers to manipulate the SetupData parameter, leading to remote code execution. This flaw primarily affects users visiting certain online gaming sites connected with MSN on Internet Explorer 5.01 through 6.

What to do

This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on your system, potentially leading to a complete takeover. It’s like giving a stranger your game console and letting them play however they want — they could steal your account information or mess up your settings! To mitigate this risk, consider disabling ActiveX controls in Internet Explorer settings or, even better, upgrade to a more secure browser that doesn’t support vulnerable ActiveX controls. Staying away from outdated browsers is key! 🛡️ You've got this! With a few simple changes, you can protect yourself from this sneaky issue and keep your gaming experience secure! 🎉

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.38312 · 98.6th percentile
Published
2004-10-21T04:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 21 OCT 04:00Z
    Heap-based buffer overflow in the Hrtbeat.ocx (Heartbeat) ActiveX control for Internet Explorer 5.01 through 6, when users who visit online gaming sites that…
    cvelistv5