CVE-2013-3124 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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-2013-3117 and CVE-2013-3122.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2021
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory operations during web page rendering, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit memory management flaws in the browser's JavaScript engine. The issue manifested when Internet Explorer processed specially crafted web pages that triggered improper memory handling, potentially leading to memory corruption that could be leveraged for code execution.
The technical flaw resided in how Internet Explorer 9 managed memory allocation and deallocation during the processing of web content, particularly when handling certain JavaScript objects and DOM elements. Attackers could construct web pages that would cause the browser to improperly reference memory locations, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability exploited the browser's failure to properly validate memory operations during web page rendering, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the browser's memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was significant as it allowed attackers to remotely compromise systems running Internet Explorer 9 without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This made it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios where users could be exploited simply by browsing to compromised sites. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw meant that attackers could potentially gain full system control, install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. Organizations running Internet Explorer 9 were at risk of complete system compromise, making this vulnerability a high-priority target for exploitation.
Security researchers identified this vulnerability as distinct from other related issues such as CVE-2013-3117 and CVE-2013-3122, which represented different memory corruption pathways within the same browser version. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Windows Command Shell execution, as successful exploitation could lead to command execution capabilities. Microsoft released a security update to address this vulnerability through their regular patching cycle, but organizations needed to ensure timely deployment of the fix to protect against active exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of keeping browser software updated and implementing additional security measures such as browser sandboxing and security restrictions to limit potential damage from similar future exploits.
This vulnerability demonstrated the ongoing challenges in browser security and memory management, particularly in legacy software versions that received limited security updates. The attack surface created by complex JavaScript engines and dynamic memory allocation mechanisms continues to present risks that require careful monitoring and proactive security measures. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management strategies and consider browser hardening techniques to reduce exposure to such memory corruption vulnerabilities. The incident underscored the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential consequences of running unsupported browser versions in enterprise environments.