Software Engineering Institute

SolidWorks provides 3D CAD software solutions. The SolidWorks sldimdownload ActiveX control is provided by the file sldimdownload.dll. It contains a method called Run(), which takes installerpath and applicationarguments parameters. This method can be used to execute arbitrary applications that may reside on remote servers.

By convincing a victim to view an HTML document (web page, HTML email, or email attachment), an attacker could run arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running IE.

Install an update

This issue has been addressed in the sldimdownload ActiveX control version 16,0,0,1. This version restricts the web domains that can use the control. To update, close all Internet Explorer windows. Go to %windir%\downloaded program files . Right click on sldimdownloadiface and select update. Please see the SolidWorks technical document for more information.

Remove the SolidWorks sldimdownload ActiveX control

Close all Internet Explorer windows. Go to %windir%\downloaded program files . Right click on sldimdownloadiface and select remove. Please see the SolidWorks technical document for more information.

Disable the SolidWorks sldimdownload ActiveX control in Internet Explorer

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

{AB6633A8-60A9-4F5D-B66C-ABE268CC3227}
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\{AB6633A8-60A9-4F5D-B66C-ABE268CC3227}]
"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.