CVE-2002-0077 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5 and 6.0 treats objects invoked on an HTML page with the codebase property as part of Local Computer zone, which allows remote attackers to invoke executables present on the local system through objects such as the popup object, aka the "Local Executable Invocation via Object tag" vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2017
The CVE-2002-0077 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5.01, 5.5, and 6.0 that fundamentally undermines the browser's security model. This vulnerability stems from how Internet Explorer handles HTML objects with the codebase property, specifically treating these objects as belonging to the Local Computer zone rather than the more restrictive Internet zone. The core technical flaw lies in the browser's zone identification mechanism, which incorrectly grants elevated privileges to objects that should be restricted to internet zone security policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems through carefully crafted HTML pages. When an attacker crafts a malicious webpage containing an object tag with a codebase property pointing to a local executable, the browser's incorrect zone assignment allows this local executable to be invoked directly without proper security restrictions. This creates a pathway for attackers to execute malicious software, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability particularly affects the popup object functionality, where attackers can leverage this behavior to launch local programs without user consent or awareness.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues, specifically highlighting the improper handling of security zones in web browsers. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, involving exploitation of remote services, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreters. The flaw represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where a lower-privilege zone (Internet) is incorrectly elevated to a higher-privilege zone (Local Computer), bypassing essential security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Internet Explorer versions, as Microsoft released security updates addressing this specific issue. Organizations should implement strict browser security policies that disable ActiveX controls and object tags when possible, particularly in environments where users access untrusted websites. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious HTML content that attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browsers updated remains crucial in defending against this class of attacks. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper security zone enforcement in web browsers and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can lead to significant security breaches.