CVE-2010-0245 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 does not properly handle objects in memory, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing an object that (1) was not properly initialized or (2) is deleted, leading to memory corruption, aka "Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-3671, CVE-2009-3674, and CVE-2010-0246.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 that stems from improper handling of objects in memory during the browser's execution cycle. The vulnerability occurs when the browser attempts to access objects that either failed to initialize correctly or have already been deleted from memory, creating a scenario where malicious code can manipulate the memory state to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of uninitialized memory corruption as defined by common weakness enumeration standards, specifically aligning with CWE-476 which addresses null pointer dereferences and similar memory handling errors. The flaw exists in the browser's memory management subsystem where object lifecycle handling is inadequate, allowing attackers to exploit the gap between object creation and proper initialization or between object deletion and memory cleanup.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with a pathway to achieve arbitrary code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. Attackers can craft web pages that trigger the specific memory access patterns that lead to the corruption, potentially allowing them to escalate privileges and gain full control over the affected system. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the core memory management level of the browser, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard security measures. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways depending on the specific object access pattern, but the end result remains consistent - execution of malicious code with the privileges of the user running the browser. The vulnerability is classified under the attack pattern taxonomy as a memory corruption attack, which is a common technique used by threat actors to bypass modern security controls and establish persistent access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected Internet Explorer 8 installations, as Microsoft released security updates specifically addressing this flaw. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious content patterns associated with this vulnerability. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary features, implementing strict memory protection mechanisms, and using sandboxing techniques can help reduce the attack surface. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory access patterns and object lifecycle violations that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in browser security and highlights the need for continuous security testing and code review processes to identify similar issues in other software components. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious websites and avoid visiting compromised pages that could exploit this memory corruption vulnerability.