CVE-2011-3404 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9 does not properly use the Content-Disposition HTTP header to control rendering of the HTTP response body, which allows remote attackers to read content from a different (1) domain or (2) zone via a crafted web site, aka "Content-Disposition Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3404 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 9, specifically related to the improper handling of the Content-Disposition HTTP header during HTTP response processing. This vulnerability stems from Internet Explorer's failure to adequately enforce cross-domain security boundaries when processing web content, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit the browser's rendering behavior to access content from different domains or security zones. The issue manifests when the Content-Disposition header is manipulated to control how the browser should handle the response body, potentially bypassing standard security mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized content access across domain boundaries.
The technical flaw resides in Internet Explorer's insufficient validation and enforcement of security policies when processing HTTP responses that contain Content-Disposition headers. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of web browser security model implementation and HTTP protocol handling, where the browser's interpretation of the Content-Disposition header fails to properly isolate content from different security contexts. The flaw essentially allows attackers to craft web pages that manipulate how the browser processes HTTP responses, enabling them to access content that should normally be restricted due to cross-domain security policies. This represents a violation of the same-origin policy that forms the foundation of web security, creating a pathway for information disclosure that could potentially expose sensitive data from other domains or security zones.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to perform cross-domain information disclosure attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. Attackers can construct web pages that leverage the Content-Disposition header manipulation to force Internet Explorer to render content from other domains in ways that expose previously restricted information. This vulnerability particularly affects users of older Internet Explorer versions where security model implementations were less robust, potentially allowing attackers to access cookies, session information, or other sensitive data that should be isolated between different security zones. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates within the browser's native rendering capabilities, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3404 should prioritize immediate browser updates and security patches from Microsoft, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer where the security model implementation was fundamentally flawed. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser security policies that enforce the use of modern browsers with more robust security implementations, while also considering network-level controls to monitor and restrict Content-Disposition header usage. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and maps to ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and information gathering through web browser exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious Content-Disposition header manipulations, while regular security assessments should verify that browsers are properly updated to address this and similar historical vulnerabilities that could be exploited in legacy environments.