CVE-2005-3077 in IE for Macintosh
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2.3 for Mac OS allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a web page with malformed attributes in a BGSOUND tag, possibly involving double-quotes in an about: URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3077 represents a classic buffer overflow condition affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2.3 on Mac OS platforms. This issue manifests when the browser encounters a specially crafted web page containing malformed attributes within a BGSOUND tag element. The vulnerability specifically exploits how the browser processes about: URI references that contain double-quote characters, creating a scenario where memory corruption occurs during parsing operations. The BGSOUND tag, used to play background sounds in older web pages, becomes a vector for exploitation when malformed attributes are present, particularly when these attributes contain improperly escaped quotation marks within about: URI references. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. When Internet Explorer processes the malformed BGSOUND tag, the browser's rendering engine fails to properly validate the attribute values, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in application termination. The attack requires a remote web page to be loaded in the vulnerable browser, making it a remote code execution risk that could be leveraged by malicious actors. The specific use of about: URI references with double-quote characters creates a parsing inconsistency that bypasses normal input validation mechanisms, allowing the attacker to inject malformed data that triggers the buffer overflow condition. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and bounds checking in web browser implementations.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader category of web browser exploitation techniques that leverage malformed HTML elements to trigger memory corruption. The attack vector specifically aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 category of Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in applications to execute malicious code or cause system instability. The vulnerability's impact on Internet Explorer 5.2.3 on Mac OS represents a legacy issue that highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser implementations and the risks associated with using outdated software versions. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of their broader security posture, particularly when legacy systems remain in use, as it demonstrates how seemingly minor parsing inconsistencies can result in significant operational disruptions and potential security compromise. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate browser updates, network-based filtering of suspicious content, and user education regarding safe browsing practices to prevent exposure to such malicious web content.