CVE-2012-1880 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9 does not properly handle objects in memory, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by accessing a deleted object, aka "insertRow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1880 represents a critical memory management flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 9 that enables remote code execution through improper object handling. This vulnerability specifically targets the browser's memory management system where objects are not properly validated before access, creating a condition that allows attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute malicious code. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer attempts to access objects that have already been deleted from memory, creating a scenario where attackers can leverage this memory corruption to gain unauthorized execution privileges.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates as a use-after-free condition, which is categorized under CWE-416, where a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed. The memory corruption occurs during the insertRow operation within Internet Explorer's HTML rendering engine, where the browser fails to properly validate object references before attempting to access them. When an attacker crafts a malicious webpage containing specific JavaScript code that triggers the insertRow function on a table element, the browser's memory management system can be manipulated to reference freed memory locations, allowing arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1548.002 for Abuse of Functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it affects a broad range of Internet Explorer versions that were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the period when this vulnerability existed. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by hosting malicious web content that, when viewed in a vulnerable browser, automatically triggers the memory corruption scenario. The remote execution capability means that users do not need to perform any special actions beyond visiting a compromised website, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for widespread exploitation. Organizations running these older browser versions faced significant risk as the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, and compromised websites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to either patch the affected systems or implement compensating controls. Microsoft released security updates that addressed the memory management flaw in Internet Explorer, and organizations should prioritize applying these patches to prevent exploitation. Alternative mitigation approaches include implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling JavaScript execution in certain contexts, using security software that can detect and block malicious web content, and employing network-based protections such as web application firewalls. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and ensuring that users are migrated to supported browser versions that contain the necessary security fixes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing robust security practices to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.