CVE-2011-0347 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer on Windows XP allows remote attackers to trigger an incorrect GUI display and have unspecified other impact via vectors related to the DOM implementation, as demonstrated by cross_fuzz.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0347 represents a significant security flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer running on Windows XP systems. This issue stems from improper handling within the Document Object Model implementation, specifically affecting how the browser processes certain web content that leads to incorrect graphical user interface behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory corruption issues that can potentially be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution or other malicious outcomes. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer encounters malformed or specially crafted web content that triggers unexpected behavior in the DOM processing engine, resulting in unintended GUI display anomalies and potentially more serious consequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's handling of DOM elements and their interactions within the rendering engine. When processing certain web pages containing maliciously constructed DOM nodes or JavaScript elements, Internet Explorer's parser fails to properly validate or sanitize input data, leading to memory corruption or incorrect state management within the browser's graphical interface components. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and memory management issues that are commonly classified under CWE-121 and CWE-125, which relate to buffer overflow conditions and improper handling of memory operations. The cross_fuzz demonstration technique shows how fuzzing methodologies can be used to systematically identify these types of implementation flaws in web browser engines.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0347 extends beyond simple display corruption, as it represents a potential vector for more serious exploitation attempts. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate the browser's user interface in ways that may obscure important security warnings or create deceptive interfaces that could trick users into performing unintended actions. The unspecified nature of the other impacts suggests that this vulnerability could potentially lead to privilege escalation, information disclosure, or complete browser compromise. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a valuable exploit primitive that could be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve more sophisticated attack objectives, aligning with tactics described in the attack pattern taxonomy under ATT&CK framework's T1059 and T1203 categories.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application through Microsoft's security updates, as the flaw exists in the core browser implementation and cannot be effectively addressed through configuration changes alone. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the relevant security patches and consider implementing additional security controls such as browser sandboxing, content filtering, and user access restrictions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and the risks associated with running unsupported operating systems, as Windows XP reached end-of-life support in 2014, leaving systems vulnerable to unpatched exploits like CVE-2011-0347. Organizations should also implement network-based security controls including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern.