CVE-2013-2552 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8 allows remote attackers to bypass the sandbox protection mechanism by leveraging access to a Medium integrity process, as demonstrated by VUPEN during a Pwn2Own competition at CanSecWest 2013.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2552 represents a critical sandbox escape flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 running on Windows 8 operating systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the sandbox protection mechanisms that are designed to isolate web browser processes from the underlying operating system to prevent malicious code execution. The flaw enables remote attackers to bypass these protective boundaries by exploiting a pathway that involves accessing a Medium integrity process, which typically represents a lower privilege execution context within the Windows security model. During the demonstration at the Pwn2Own competition held at CanSecWest 2013, security researchers from VUPEN successfully exploited this vulnerability to showcase how attackers could elevate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to system resources that should normally remain protected by the browser sandbox.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within Internet Explorer 10's security architecture. When a user interacts with malicious content, the browser's sandbox protection mechanism fails to properly enforce the isolation between the low integrity process and the higher privilege system components. The vulnerability exploits a design flaw that allows a Medium integrity process to gain access to system resources or capabilities that should be restricted to higher privilege levels. This represents a fundamental failure in the security model where the boundary between different privilege levels becomes porous, enabling attackers to leverage existing process access to move laterally within the system. The flaw specifically manifests when Internet Explorer 10 attempts to handle certain types of input or content that triggers an improper privilege escalation path through the existing Medium integrity process boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2552 extends far beyond simple sandbox bypass, as it fundamentally undermines the core security principles that modern browsers employ to protect users from malicious web content. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability's relevance in real-world scenarios is heightened by the fact that it was demonstrated in a competitive security environment where skilled researchers were able to exploit it, indicating that similar attacks could be carried out by less sophisticated threat actors. Organizations running Windows 8 systems with Internet Explorer 10 were particularly vulnerable to this attack vector, as the operating system's security model did not adequately prevent the privilege escalation that this vulnerability enabled, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2552 required immediate action from system administrators and security teams. The primary recommended approach involved applying Microsoft's security patches and updates that addressed the specific sandbox bypass mechanism. Organizations should have implemented the Windows Update services and ensured that all Internet Explorer 10 installations were current with the latest security fixes. Additionally, network administrators could implement browser security controls such as Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration (ESC) and application whitelisting to limit the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and its alignment with ATT&CK technique T1055 (Process Injection) highlights the need for layered security approaches including regular security assessments, privileged access management, and monitoring for unusual process behavior. Organizations should have also considered alternative browsing solutions or browser hardening measures to reduce the risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where users were exposed to untrusted web content.