| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability has been found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5/6/7 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component EMBED Tag Handler. The manipulation leads to resource management. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2008-4261. The attack can be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Details
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5/6/7 (Web Browser). Affected is an unknown functionality of the component EMBED Tag Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a resource management vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-399. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4, 6 SP1 on Windows 2000, and 6 on Windows XP and Server 2003 does not properly handle extraneous data associated with an object embedded in a web page, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted HTML tags that trigger memory corruption, aka "HTML Rendering Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
The issue has been introduced in 06/02/1998. The weakness was published 12/09/2008 by Jun Mao (shinnai) with iDefense as MS08-073 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared for download at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2008-4261 since 09/25/2008. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available.
It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 3843 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 35072 (MS08-073: Microsoft Internet Explorer Multiple Vulnerabilities (958215)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 100064 (Microsoft Internet Explorer Cumulative Security Update (MS08-073)).
Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch MS08-073 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 6600.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (46860), Tenable (35072), Secunia (SA33035†), SecurityTracker (ID 1021371†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-20196†). Similar entries are available at VDB-3897, VDB-3898 and VDB-3899. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
License
Support
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock |
| unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock |
| unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Resource managementCWE: CWE-399 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | unlock | unlock | unlock | unlock |
Nessus ID: 35072
Nessus Name: MS08-073: Microsoft Internet Explorer Multiple Vulnerabilities (958215)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
OpenVAS ID: 900062
OpenVAS Name: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (958215)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍
Saint ID: exploit_info/ie_embed_src_ext
Saint Name: Internet Explorer embed tag src extension buffer overflow
Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Patch: MS08-073
TippingPoint: 🔍
McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍
Timeline
06/02/1998 🔍09/25/2008 🔍
12/09/2008 🔍
12/09/2008 🔍
12/10/2008 🔍
12/10/2008 🔍
12/19/2008 🔍
05/25/2025 🔍
Sources
Vendor: microsoft.comAdvisory: MS08-073
Researcher: Jun Mao (shinnai)
Organization: iDefense
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2008-4261 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2008-4261
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-3900
OVAL: 🔍
X-Force: 46860
Secunia: 33035 - Microsoft Internet Explorer Multiple Vulnerabilities, Highly Critical
SecurityTracker: 1021371 - Microsoft Internet Explorer HTML Processing Bugs Let Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code
Vulnerability Center: 20196 - [MS08-073] Microsoft Internet Explorer Embedded Objects Remote Code Execution or DoS Vulnerability, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2008-3385
See also: 🔍
Entry
Created: 12/19/2008 12:31 PMUpdated: 05/25/2025 10:48 PM
Changes: 12/19/2008 12:31 PM (60), 04/07/2017 12:02 PM (32), 03/17/2021 07:13 AM (8), 03/17/2021 07:18 AM (1), 05/25/2025 10:48 PM (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 18:8D1:40
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