CVE-2011-3397 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft Time component in DATIME.DLL in Microsoft Windows XP SP2 and SP3 and Server 2003 SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site that leverages an unspecified "binary behavior" in Internet Explorer, aka "Microsoft Time Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-3397 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Microsoft Windows operating systems, specifically affecting Windows XP Service Pack 2 and 3 along with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2. This vulnerability resides in the DATIME.DLL component of the Microsoft Time service, which is responsible for handling time-related operations and synchronization within the Windows ecosystem. The flaw manifests through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages Internet Explorer's handling of malicious web content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution issue indicates that attackers can potentially gain complete control over affected systems from remote locations, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to establish persistent access to networks.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves an unspecified "binary behavior" within Internet Explorer that allows attackers to manipulate how the browser processes time-related data structures. This binary behavior likely refers to improper handling of memory operations or data parsing within the DATIME.DLL component when Internet Explorer encounters maliciously crafted web content. The vulnerability operates through a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption pattern where crafted input data causes the time component to execute unintended code paths. This type of flaw typically occurs when input validation is insufficient and the system fails to properly sanitize data before processing it through the time synchronization functions. The attack chain begins with a malicious website that contains specially crafted time-related data structures designed to trigger the vulnerable code path in DATIME.DLL, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the compromised user.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for organizations running affected Windows versions, as it allows attackers to execute malicious code remotely without requiring any user interaction or specialized tools. The attack surface is extremely broad since any user visiting a compromised website could become victim to this exploit, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently browse the internet. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, establish backdoors, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to critical systems, data breaches, and potential lateral movement throughout their networks. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to include potential disruption of business operations, regulatory compliance violations, and significant financial consequences from both direct losses and remediation costs.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3397 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Microsoft as the primary defense mechanism, as this vulnerability was addressed through security updates released by Microsoft in their regular security bulletins. Organizations should implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to potentially compromised systems while maintaining essential time synchronization services. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls and implementing enhanced security zones can reduce the attack surface for Internet Explorer-based exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual time synchronization activities or network connections to known malicious domains. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary code through the compromised time service functionality. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, indicating the need for comprehensive memory safety practices in system components. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized binaries, particularly those related to time synchronization services that may be vulnerable to similar exploitation techniques.