CVE-2008-0077 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 SP1, 6 SP2, and and 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by assigning malformed values to certain properties, as demonstrated using the by property of an animateMotion SVG element, aka "Property Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0077 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 Service Pack 1, 6 Service Pack 2, and 7. This memory corruption vulnerability specifically targets the browser's handling of Scalable Vector Graphics elements, particularly the animateMotion element's by property. The flaw occurs when Internet Explorer processes malformed SVG content that triggers improper memory management during property assignment operations. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, where a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web browsers as it can be exploited through malicious web pages without requiring user interaction beyond visiting the compromised site.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the browser's SVG rendering engine to manipulate memory pointers through the by property of animateMotion elements. When Internet Explorer encounters malformed values in this specific property during SVG processing, it fails to properly validate the input before attempting to assign or reference memory locations. This improper memory management creates a scenario where freed memory can be reallocated and subsequently accessed by malicious code, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary instructions within the browser's memory space. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic memory corruption pattern where the attacker can control the execution flow by manipulating the freed memory location to point to malicious code, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0077 is significant given that Internet Explorer 6 and 7 were widely deployed across enterprise environments and personal computing systems during the period when this vulnerability existed. The remote code execution capability means that attackers could deliver malicious SVG content through web pages, email attachments, or compromised websites, allowing them to gain unauthorized access to affected systems. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code remotely without requiring local system access. The exploitability of this vulnerability was heightened by the fact that it could be triggered through standard web browsing activities, making it particularly dangerous for users who were not aware of the security implications of visiting compromised websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0077 focused primarily on applying Microsoft's security patches and updates that addressed the memory management issues within the SVG processing components of Internet Explorer. Organizations should have implemented immediate patch management procedures to upgrade affected systems to versions that contained the necessary security fixes. Browser hardening techniques including disabling SVG support or implementing content security policies could provide additional protection layers. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls and proxy servers could help filter malicious SVG content before it reached end-user systems. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of keeping browsers updated and implementing security awareness training for users to recognize potentially malicious web content. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability underscored the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following security frameworks such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management.