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A stack-based buffer overflow exists in the AskJeevesToolBar.SettingsPlugin.1 ActiveX control (askBar.dll) in IAC Search & Media ask.com Ask Toolbar version 4.0.2.53 and earlier. The vulnerability is triggered by supplying an overly long value to the ShortFormat property, which can overwrite the stack and allow for arbitrary code execution. The issue is present in the ActiveX control used by Internet Explorer, making it exploitable via malicious web pages.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (1 hidden).
This repository contains a single Metasploit module (ask_shortformat.rb) that exploits a stack buffer overflow vulnerability in the Ask.com Toolbar (askBar.dll version 4.0.2.53) via the ShortFormat() method. The exploit is delivered through a malicious HTML page served by the attacker's HTTP server, which instantiates the vulnerable ActiveX control using its CLSID and triggers the overflow with a crafted string. The module targets Windows XP SP0/SP1 Pro English and Windows 2000 Pro English systems. If successful, it allows arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the browser. The exploit is operational and leverages Metasploit's payload system for code execution. The main fingerprintable endpoints are the askBar.dll file and its associated ActiveX CLSID. The repository is structured as a single Ruby file compatible with the Metasploit framework.
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