CVE-2008-2255 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, and 7 accesses uninitialized memory, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-2254, aka "HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2255 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5.01, 6, and 7 that stems from improper handling of uninitialized memory during HTML object processing. This issue falls under the broader category of memory safety vulnerabilities and is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow or memory corruption vulnerability according to CWE-125. The flaw occurs when Internet Explorer attempts to process certain HTML objects without properly initializing memory regions, creating potential attack vectors for remote exploitation. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer spanning nearly a decade of browser releases, indicating a fundamental flaw in the memory management subsystem that was not adequately addressed through version updates.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's handling of HTML objects that contain malformed or incomplete data structures. When Internet Explorer encounters such objects, it attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, leading to unpredictable behavior. This uninitialized memory access creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can be leveraged for remote code execution, making it a severe security risk. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1584.002 (Compromise Infrastructure: Domain Generation Algorithm) when exploited through web-based attack vectors, as attackers can craft malicious web pages to trigger the memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2255 is substantial as it affects a large user base of legacy Internet Explorer installations that were still prevalent in 2008. Organizations running these older browser versions faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web services. The remote code execution capability means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's similarity to CVE-2008-2254 demonstrates a pattern of memory corruption issues in Internet Explorer's HTML parsing engine, suggesting deeper architectural problems in how the browser handles object instantiation and memory allocation. Security researchers have noted that the flaw's exploitation typically requires social engineering to convince users to visit malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter compromised content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2255 primarily focus on immediate browser updates and security hardening measures. Microsoft released patches for this vulnerability through Windows Update, but the most effective mitigation involves upgrading to supported browser versions or implementing browser isolation techniques. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to known malicious domains. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in software development, aligning with industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and the CERT/CC Secure Coding Standards. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious web traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and downloading content from unknown sources, as these remain the most common attack vectors for exploiting such memory corruption vulnerabilities.