CVE-2013-3112 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 10 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-3113, CVE-2013-3121, CVE-2013-3139, and CVE-2013-3142.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 10 that enables remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations when processing specially crafted web content, creating exploitable conditions that allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code on targeted systems. The flaw specifically affects the browser's rendering engine and memory management mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption techniques that manipulate heap-based data structures within Internet Explorer's memory space. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when rendered by the affected browser versions, trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions in the browser's memory management subsystem. These conditions can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations and ultimately gain control over the browser process, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, though the specific exploitation mechanism involves memory corruption rather than simple buffer overflow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios that can render affected systems unusable. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause browser crashes, system instability, or complete system compromise depending on the attacker's objectives and the specific exploitation techniques employed. The widespread adoption of Internet Explorer versions 6 through 10 across enterprise environments made this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect large numbers of users simultaneously. The attack surface includes any web content that could be rendered by the affected browser versions, making it difficult to defend against through simple network filtering approaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in the browser's rendering engine. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and using application whitelisting to prevent execution of untrusted code. Network-based mitigations like web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts, though these should not be relied upon as primary defenses. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing layered security approaches as outlined in the mitre attack framework where such vulnerabilities typically fall under the execution and privilege escalation phases of an attack lifecycle. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and mandatory access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.