CVE-2011-1713 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft msxml.dll, as used in Internet Explorer 8 on Windows 7, allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information about heap memory addresses via an XML document containing a call to the XSLT generate-id XPath function. NOTE: this might overlap CVE-2011-1202.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1713 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Microsoft's msxml.dll component that affects Internet Explorer 8 running on Windows 7 systems. This weakness stems from how the XML parser handles XSLT processing, specifically when encountering the generate-id XPath function within XML documents. The flaw enables remote attackers to extract heap memory addresses through carefully crafted XML content, potentially exposing sensitive information about the application's memory layout.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of memory addresses during XSLT transformation processes. When Internet Explorer processes XML documents containing the generate-id function, the msxml.dll component fails to properly sanitize or obscure memory address information that gets exposed during the transformation. This occurs because the XSLT engine does not adequately protect against information leakage through the generate-id function, which is designed to create unique identifiers but inadvertently reveals memory location details. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to CWE-125 "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-126 "Buffer Over-read" when considering the memory access patterns involved.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as heap memory address information can be leveraged by attackers to facilitate more sophisticated exploitation techniques. While the direct exposure may not enable immediate code execution, it provides crucial information for advanced exploitation methods such as heap spraying or address space layout randomization (ASLR) bypass attempts. Attackers can use the leaked memory addresses to craft more precise buffer overflow exploits or to circumvent security mitigations that rely on memory layout unpredictability. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell" and T1068 for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" when combined with other attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1713 should prioritize immediate patch application through Microsoft's security updates, as the vulnerability affects core system components that are difficult to isolate through network segmentation alone. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as XML content filtering to block potentially malicious XML documents, though this approach may impact legitimate functionality. Browser security enhancements including enhanced sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms should be enabled to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs that can quickly respond to emerging threats. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of unusual XML processing patterns and memory access behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts.