CVE-2008-2257 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, and 7 accesses uninitialized memory in certain conditions, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and execute arbitrary code via vectors related to a document object "appended in a specific order," aka "HTML Objects Memory Corruption Vulnerability" or "XHTML Rendering Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-2258.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2257 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 document object processing. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that are classified as CWE-125: Uninitialized Memory Read, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows attackers to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes HTML documents containing specific sequences of document objects that are appended in a particular order, creating conditions where uninitialized memory segments are accessed and potentially manipulated.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTML objects within XHTML documents that are rendered by Internet Explorer's rendering engine. When the browser encounters a document structure where certain objects are appended in a specific sequence, the memory management system fails to properly initialize memory locations before accessing them. This creates a scenario where attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger the access of uninitialized memory, leading to unpredictable behavior in the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, making it a prime target for exploitation in targeted attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2257 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise capabilities. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause Internet Explorer to crash and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the browser. The attack surface is significant as it affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer, creating widespread exposure across enterprise environments and individual users. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, which describes how adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute code on compromised systems. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as successful exploitation could potentially lead to elevated privileges.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security patches, configuring Internet Explorer security settings to restrict potentially dangerous HTML elements, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory initialization in software development and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and memory management practices. Security professionals should also consider implementing browser hardening measures, such as disabling ActiveX controls, restricting JavaScript execution, and employing sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the persistent risks associated with legacy browser versions and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all systems.