CVE-2009-0554 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4, 6 SP1, 6 and 7 on Windows XP SP2 and SP3, 6 and 7 on Windows Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, 7 on Windows Vista Gold and SP1, and 7 on Windows Server 2008 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a web page that triggers presence of an object in memory that was (1) not properly initialized or (2) deleted, aka "Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer that affects multiple versions across different Windows operating systems. The issue stems from improper handling of memory objects during web page rendering processes, specifically when objects that should be initialized are either not properly initialized or have been deleted from memory. This fundamental memory management error creates a condition where attackers can manipulate the browser's memory state to execute arbitrary code remotely.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and more broadly with CWE-125, representing out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The flaw occurs during the normal operation of Internet Explorer when processing web content, particularly when the browser encounters objects that have been improperly managed in memory. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger the browser to access memory locations containing uninitialized or deleted objects, potentially leading to code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it allows remote code execution without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The exploitability is enhanced by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer across various Windows platforms, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy systems may still be in use. The attack vector is straightforward through web-based delivery, leveraging the browser's normal operation to trigger the memory corruption condition.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches, which address the underlying memory management issues in the affected browser versions. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and browser hardening measures to reduce exposure. Additionally, users should be educated about avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining updated security software. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in browser applications and highlights how seemingly simple initialization errors can lead to severe security consequences, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.1001 for command and script interpreter execution.