CVE-2008-5711

Heap-based buffer overflow in the Facebook PhotoUploader ActiveX control 5.0.14.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long…

published December 24, 2008

CVSS
—
EPSS
33%
Percentile
98.3
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A lengthy FileMask property is the key to this heap-based buffer overflow in Facebook's PhotoUploader ActiveX control! Watch out for this sneaky vulnerability that could be hiding in plain sight. 😮 Think of the PhotoUploader as a restaurant’s kitchen: if a chef receives an order with an unusually large quantity of ingredients, they might end up overloading their workspace, causing a culinary disaster! Similarly, this vulnerability allows attackers to overflow the control's memory space with excessive data, leading to serious issues. An attacker could exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine, which is a bit like a rogue chef slipping harmful ingredients into a dish. This could potentially allow for unauthorized access to sensitive data or system control, resulting in chaos for the unsuspecting user!

Put simply

Think of the PhotoUploader as a restaurant’s kitchen: if a chef receives an order with an unusually large quantity of ingredients, they might end up overloading their workspace, causing a culinary disaster! Similarly, this vulnerability allows attackers to overflow the control's memory space with excessive data, leading to serious issues. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit a heap-based buffer overflow in the Facebook PhotoUploader ActiveX control by passing an excessively long FileMask property value, leading to the execution of arbitrary code.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine, which is a bit like a rogue chef slipping harmful ingredients into a dish. This could potentially allow for unauthorized access to sensitive data or system control, resulting in chaos for the unsuspecting user! To mitigate this vulnerability, ensure that the Facebook PhotoUploader is updated to version 5.0.15 or later. It's also a good idea to review and limit the lengths of input properties that could lead to overflow situations, especially in the context of ActiveX components. You've got this! By updating and staying vigilant, you can keep your systems safe from potential threats. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.32696 · 98.3th percentile
Published
2008-12-24T17:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 24 DEC 17:00Z
    Heap-based buffer overflow in the Facebook PhotoUploader ActiveX control 5.0.14.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long…
    cvelistv5