CVE-2008-0076 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 6 SP1 and SP2, and 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted HTML layout combinations, aka "HTML Rendering Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer that affects versions 5.01, 6 Service Pack 1 and 2, and 7. The issue stems from improper handling of HTML layout elements during the rendering process, creating conditions where maliciously crafted HTML content can trigger memory corruption that adversaries can exploit to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests when Internet Explorer processes certain combinations of HTML layout elements that cause memory allocation and deallocation patterns to become corrupted, leading to potential code execution.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory corruption issues typically occur when the browser's HTML parser encounters malformed or specially crafted HTML elements that cause buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. The vulnerability operates at the memory management level within Internet Explorer's rendering engine, where improper bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory addresses and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the browser. The attack vector relies on remote code execution through web-based content, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and malicious website exploitation scenarios.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on older Internet Explorer versions, as it allows attackers to gain complete system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The exploitation can lead to full system control, data theft, and persistence mechanisms being established through the execution of arbitrary code. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, steal sensitive information, or establish command and control channels, making it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat actors. The vulnerability's remote exploit capability means that organizations are at risk even when users are browsing legitimate websites that may have been compromised with malicious content.
The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and script interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as exploitation typically leads to privilege escalation opportunities within the victim's browser context. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory security updates, deployment of Microsoft's security patches, and browser hardening measures such as disabling ActiveX controls, implementing enhanced security zones, and deploying web application firewalls. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious web traffic can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing comprehensive patch management strategies to prevent exploitation of known memory corruption vulnerabilities in legacy browser versions.