CVE-2010-0806 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the Peer Objects component (aka iepeers.dll) in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 6 SP1, and 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving access to an invalid pointer after the deletion of an object, as exploited in the wild in March 2010, aka "Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2026
The CVE-2010-0806 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer's Peer Objects component, specifically in the iepeers.dll library. This vulnerability affects Internet Explorer versions 6, 6 SP1, and 7, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these older browser versions in enterprise environments. The flaw manifests as an uninitialized memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution when exploited in the wild during March 2010. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated exploitation technique that leverages memory management errors to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Peer Objects component, which is responsible for handling peer-to-peer communication features in Internet Explorer. When an object is deleted from memory but references to that object remain accessible, the system can attempt to access freed memory locations, creating a use-after-free condition. This particular flaw occurs during the handling of invalid pointer access after object deletion, allowing attackers to craft malicious web content that triggers the memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 as a Use After Free condition, which represents a well-known class of memory safety issues that have historically led to severe security implications.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-0806 is significant and far-reaching, particularly within corporate networks where older Internet Explorer versions remain in use. Attackers exploited this vulnerability by delivering malicious web pages that, when rendered by the affected browsers, would trigger the use-after-free condition and subsequently execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the browser. This capability enabled attackers to perform complete system compromise, including installation of backdoors, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. The vulnerability's exploitation in the wild during March 2010 demonstrated its effectiveness and led to widespread compromise of systems running vulnerable versions of Internet Explorer.
The exploitation techniques associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK framework tactics including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Security professionals observed that the vulnerability was frequently leveraged through drive-by download attacks, where users would visit compromised websites containing malicious JavaScript or ActiveX content that triggered the memory corruption. The attack vectors typically involved crafting specific HTML content that would cause the browser to access freed memory, leading to code execution. Organizations that had not updated to patched versions of Internet Explorer remained highly vulnerable to these attacks, as the patch addresses the underlying memory management issue in the iepeers.dll component.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0806 required immediate action from organizations, including deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches released in response to the vulnerability. The recommended approach involved comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected Internet Explorer versions were updated to prevent exploitation. Additional protective measures included browser hardening techniques such as disabling ActiveX controls, implementing enhanced security zones, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Organizations also implemented network-based controls to block access to known malicious domains and content that could trigger the vulnerability. The incident highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrated how legacy browser versions could serve as persistent attack vectors for sophisticated threat actors.