CVE-2008-5679 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
The HTML parsing engine in Opera before 9.63 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted web pages that trigger an invalid pointer calculation and heap corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5679 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Opera's HTML parsing engine that existed in versions prior to 9.63. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed HTML content during the parsing process, creating conditions where attackers can manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted web pages. The issue manifests as an invalid pointer calculation that leads to heap corruption, providing attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited through routine web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating the HTML parser to cause memory allocation errors that result in heap corruption. When Opera processes malformed HTML content, the parsing engine fails to properly validate pointer references, leading to situations where memory addresses become invalid or corrupted. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific implementation involves heap corruption rather than stack manipulation. The heap corruption occurs when the parser attempts to calculate memory addresses for dynamically allocated structures, and an attacker can control these calculations through malicious input. This creates a scenario where arbitrary code execution becomes possible through controlled memory corruption.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who browse the internet with older versions of Opera, as it can be exploited through simple web page visits without requiring any user interaction or additional attack vectors. The exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through compromised websites, email attachments, or other web-based delivery mechanisms. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially affect corporate networks where users might be running outdated browser versions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes exploitation for execution through web-based attacks, making it particularly relevant for organizations that need to maintain awareness of browser-based attack vectors.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of Opera browsers to version 9.63 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the HTML parsing engine. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious web content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and the potential consequences of running outdated software versions. Security teams should also monitor for any related vulnerabilities that might be discovered in similar parsing engines and maintain awareness of the evolving threat landscape for web-based exploits.