CVE-2003-0115 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5 and 6.0 does not properly check parameters that are passed during third party rendering, which could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script, aka the "Third Party Plugin Rendering" vulnerability, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0233.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2021
The CVE-2003-0115 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5.01, 5.5, and 6.0 that specifically targets the browser's handling of third-party plugin rendering processes. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of input validation flaws and is categorized as a CWE-20 weakness, which represents "Improper Input Validation" in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The vulnerability stems from Internet Explorer's insufficient parameter validation during the execution of third-party plugins, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of the user's browser session.
The technical flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes third-party plugins that are designed to render specific content types such as media files, documents, or other specialized formats. During this rendering process, the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize the parameters passed to these plugins, creating a pathway for malicious input to be interpreted as executable code. This occurs because the browser's security model does not adequately enforce boundaries between the trusted browser environment and the potentially untrusted plugin execution context. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious web pages that contain specially formatted parameters designed to bypass the normal security checks, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution within the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote code execution attacks that can compromise user systems without requiring any local privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The vulnerability specifically affects users running Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5, and 6.0 versions, which were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s. When successfully exploited, attackers can execute malicious scripts that may download additional malware, steal sensitive information, modify browser settings, or establish persistent backdoors on compromised systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser level, potentially allowing attackers to circumvent traditional network security controls and directly compromise endpoint systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and implementation of additional security controls. Microsoft released security updates specifically addressing this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected Internet Explorer installations. Beyond patch management, network administrators should implement browser isolation techniques, content filtering solutions, and web application firewalls to detect and block malicious content before it reaches vulnerable browsers. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of the principle of least privilege in browser security, where third-party plugins should be configured with minimal necessary permissions and regularly audited for security compliance. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious web content and avoid visiting compromised websites that may exploit this vulnerability.