CVE-2008-1442 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the substringData method in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, related to an unspecified manipulation of a DOM object before a call to this method, aka the "HTML Objects Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1442 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 and 7. This flaw resides within the substringData method implementation, which is part of the Document Object Model (DOM) handling capabilities of the browser. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the processing of DOM objects, specifically when manipulating text nodes through the substringData method. The issue arises from an unspecified manipulation of DOM objects that occurs prior to the invocation of the vulnerable method, creating a memory corruption scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting malicious web content that triggers the specific sequence of DOM manipulations leading to the buffer overflow condition. When Internet Explorer processes such content, the substringData method receives improperly sized input data that exceeds the allocated heap buffer boundaries. This heap corruption allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code or manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and other remote exploitation techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability affects a significant portion of the browser market during the time of its discovery, as Internet Explorer 6 and 7 were widely deployed enterprise and consumer browsers. The memory corruption vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Attackers can utilize this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to full system compromise and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that have been addressed through modern secure coding practices and memory protection mechanisms.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in browser implementations, particularly when handling dynamic DOM objects. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a precursor to more sophisticated memory corruption attacks that would later be classified under the ATT&CK framework's execution techniques, specifically those involving memory corruption and code injection. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, security patches, and network-based protections to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of regular security assessments and the importance of keeping browser components updated, as the affected versions of Internet Explorer had multiple known vulnerabilities that required comprehensive remediation strategies to protect against similar memory corruption threats.