Microsoft Windows Video ActiveX Control (msvidctl.dll) Stack Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2008-0015)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTSystems running Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2/SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista, and Server 2008 utilizing the MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control (msvidctl.dll)
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user by enticing them to visit a specially crafted malicious web page
Apply the official Microsoft security updates (MS09-037) or configure the ActiveX Kill Bit in the Windows Registry to disable the vulnerable control
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Apply the latest cumulative security updates or the specific MS09-037 patch. To force a Windows Update check and installation via PowerShell, execute the following commands:
# Install and run Windows Update module to apply pending security patches
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force -Verbose
Get-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -Install -AutoReboot2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If patching cannot be immediately scheduled, disable the vulnerable ActiveX control by setting its Kill Bit in the Windows Registry using the following PowerShell script:
# Set the Kill Bit for the MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control CLSID {0955AC62-B6B2-11D2-8F63-00C04F7971E2}
$registryPath = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{0955AC62-B6B2-11D2-8F63-00C04F7971E2}'
if (-not (Test-Path $registryPath)) {
New-Item -Path $registryPath -Force
}
New-ItemProperty -Path $registryPath -Name 'Compatibility Flags' -Value 1024 -PropertyType DWord -Force3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Verify the presence and version of the vulnerable msvidctl.dll file on the system to assess exposure:
# Check the file version of msvidctl.dll in the system directory
$sysPath = [Environment]::SystemDirectory
$dllPath = Join-Path $sysPath 'msvidctl.dll'
if (Test-Path $dllPath) {
$fileVersion = (Get-Item $dllPath).VersionInfo.FileVersion
Write-Host 'Detected msvidctl.dll Version:' $fileVersion
} else {
Write-Host 'msvidctl.dll is not present on this system.'
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Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121) residing in the CComVariant::ReadFromStream function within the Active Template Library (ATL). The MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control, implemented in msvidctl.dll as part of DirectShow, utilizes this vulnerable ATL function. When parsing untrusted stream data, the function fails to properly validate the input size, leading to memory corruption.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker exploits this vulnerability by hosting a malicious web page containing crafted HTML and JavaScript designed to instantiate the MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control and pass malformed stream parameters. When a user visits the malicious site via a vulnerable browser (such as Internet Explorer), msvidctl.dll is loaded to process the stream. The malformed input overflows the stack buffer, overwriting the return address and redirecting execution flow to the attacker's shellcode.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
This vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild (listed in CISA KEV) and carries a high EPSS score of over 0.76, indicating an extremely high likelihood of exploitation. Successful exploitation allows complete system compromise, enabling attackers to establish a foothold in the corporate network, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy ransomware, posing a severe threat to business operations.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Stack-based buffer overflow in the CComVariant::ReadFromStream function in the Active Template Library (ATL), as used in the MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control in msvidctl.dll in DirectShow, in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista Gold, SP1, and SP2, and Server 2008 Gold and SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web page, as exploited in the wild in July 2009, aka "Microsoft Video ActiveX Control Vulnerability."
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2008-0015)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2008-0015 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2008-0015 is rated CVSS 8.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 76.6%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2008-0015?
Primary impacted vendors include microsoft across windows, active_template_library. Scope summary: MPEG2TuneRequest ActiveX control in msvidctl.dll on Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2/SP3, Server 2003 SP2, Vista Gold/SP1/SP2, and Server 2008 Gold/SP2
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2008-0015 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply the official Microsoft security updates (MS09-037) or configure the ActiveX Kill Bit in the Windows Registry to disable the vulnerable control Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2008-0015
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