CVE-2010-3345 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 "HTML Element Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3345 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 that stems from improper handling of objects in memory. This issue manifests when the browser encounters HTML elements that have either not been properly initialized or have been deleted from memory, creating conditions where attackers can manipulate memory contents to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have plagued web browsers for decades, with this specific flaw demonstrating how improper object lifecycle management can lead to severe security consequences.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates through memory corruption mechanisms that exploit the browser's object management system. When Internet Explorer 8 processes HTML elements, it maintains references to various objects in memory that may become invalid or improperly initialized during normal operation. The flaw occurs when the browser attempts to access these malformed objects, leading to unpredictable memory behavior that attackers can leverage for code execution. This type of vulnerability is classified as a CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which is a common pattern in memory corruption vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. The memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially redirecting execution flow to malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides remote attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems without user interaction. This means that simply visiting a malicious website could result in complete system compromise, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter compromised web content. The vulnerability affects the core rendering engine of Internet Explorer 8, which is the foundation for how the browser processes and displays web content. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in the vulnerable browser, will trigger the memory corruption conditions and subsequently execute malicious payloads. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3345 primarily involve applying Microsoft's security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory management issues in the browser's object handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management programs to ensure all systems running Internet Explorer 8 receive the necessary security updates. Browser security features such as Data Execution Prevention and Address Space Layout Randomization should be enabled to make exploitation more difficult. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browsers updated. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of adopting modern browser security practices and eventually migrating away from older browser versions that are no longer receiving security updates, as Internet Explorer 8 reached end-of-life and no longer receives security patches from Microsoft.