CVE-2012-0168 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML document that is not properly handled during a "Print table of links" print operation, aka "Print Feature Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
This vulnerability exists in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 9 and represents a critical remote code execution flaw that exploits the browser's handling of print operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when Internet Explorer processes a crafted HTML document during a "Print table of links" operation, creating a condition where malicious code can be executed on the target system. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory handling during the print feature's processing of link tables, allowing attackers to craft malicious documents that trigger unexpected behavior in the browser's rendering engine.
The technical exploitation occurs when a user visits a malicious website or opens a specially crafted document that contains carefully constructed HTML elements designed to trigger the vulnerable print functionality. During the print operation, Internet Explorer fails to properly validate the structure and content of the link table, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the specific implementation involves heap corruption during print processing operations. The attack requires user interaction through visiting a malicious webpage or opening a malicious file, making it a user-assisted remote code execution vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities when successful. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can install programs, modify system configurations, read or modify sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Internet Explorer versions, making it particularly dangerous as many organizations still maintained legacy systems running these older browser versions. The print feature is commonly used functionality that users interact with regularly, making this attack vector particularly effective for social engineering campaigns. This vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies include applying the Microsoft security update released in response to this vulnerability, which addresses the underlying memory handling issue in the print feature's link table processing. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary print features, implementing content filtering, and using sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Users should be educated about the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and opening unexpected attachments. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious print-related network traffic patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping browser software updated and demonstrates how seemingly benign features like print operations can contain critical security flaws that require comprehensive security testing and validation.