CVE-2006-3280 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-domain vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 allows remote attackers to access restricted information from other domains via an object tag with a data parameter that references a link on the attacker s originating site that specifies a Location HTTP header that references the target site, which then makes that content available through the outerHTML attribute of the object, aka "Redirect Cross-Domain Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-domain information disclosure flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 that exploits the browser's handling of object tags and HTTP redirects to bypass security boundaries between domains. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the object tag's data parameter functionality combined with malicious HTTP header manipulation to retrieve content from restricted domains. The attack specifically targets the outerHTML attribute of the object element, which inadvertently exposes content from the target domain when the browser processes the malicious redirect chain. This issue falls under the CWE-200 category of Information Exposure and demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in Internet Explorer's cross-domain security model.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability relies on the browser's processing of object elements with data parameters that reference external resources. When an attacker crafts a malicious object tag with a data parameter pointing to their own server, the server responds with a Location HTTP header that redirects to a target domain containing sensitive information. The browser follows this redirect chain and populates the object element's outerHTML attribute with content from the target site, effectively bypassing the same-origin policy that normally prevents cross-domain data access. This attack pattern exploits the trust relationship between the browser and the object element processing mechanism, allowing attackers to harvest information from domains they should not be able to access directly. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser rendering layer rather than at the network or application level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including credential harvesting, session manipulation, and data exfiltration. Attackers can use this technique to access content from protected domains such as corporate intranets, financial systems, or administrative interfaces that should remain isolated from external access. The vulnerability affects organizations using Internet Explorer 6.0 in enterprise environments where cross-domain security boundaries are critical for protecting sensitive data. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges and no direct access to the target systems, making it particularly concerning for organizations that have not upgraded from legacy browser versions. The attack requires no special privileges on the target system and can be executed through standard web browsing activities, making it a significant risk for widespread exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and the underlying architectural issues that enabled the attack. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser upgrade policies to move away from Internet Explorer 6.0 and adopt modern browsers with robust cross-domain security implementations. Network-level mitigations include implementing strict content security policies and disabling object tag usage where possible, though these approaches may impact legitimate web applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect anomalous object tag usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and the dangers of running legacy software in production environments, as it demonstrates how outdated browser implementations can create persistent security risks that persist long after the initial vulnerability is discovered.