Software Engineering Institute

BackWeb Lite Install Runner is an ActiveX control that is used to install software on Microsoft Windows systems. This BackWeb component is packaged with Logitech Desktop Messenger, which comes bundled with Logitech mouse software and possibly other Logitech products. The BackWeb Lite Install Runner ActiveX control, which is provided by LiteInstActivator.dll, contains stack buffer overflow vulnerabilities in multiple methods.

By convincing a user to view a specially crafted HTML document (e.g., a web page or an HTML email message or attachment), an attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user.

Apply an update

This issue is addressed in Logitech Desktop Messenger 2.56, as specified in the BackWeb Security Update. This version of Logitech Desktop Messenger does not contain the vulnerable ActiveX control. This issue is also addressed by Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-032. This update sets the kill bit for the vulnerable ActiveX control, which prevents it from being used by Internet Explorer.

Disable the BackWeb Lite Install Runner ActiveX control in Internet Explorer

The vulnerable ActiveX control can be disabled in Internet Explorer by setting the kill bit for the following CLSID:

{40F23EB7-B397-4285-8F3C-AACE4FA40309}
More information about how to set the kill bit is available in Microsoft Support Document 240797. Alternatively, the following text can be saved as a .REG file and imported to set the kill bit for this control:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{40F23EB7-B397-4285-8F3C-AACE4FA40309}]
"Compatibility Flags"=dword:00000400
Disable ActiveX

Disabling ActiveX controls in the Internet Zone (or any zone used by an attacker) appears to prevent exploitation of this and other ActiveX vulnerabilities. Instructions for disabling ActiveX in the Internet Zone can be found in the "Securing Your Web Browser" document.