CVE-2013-3153 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-2013-3148.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3153 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 10 that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory management weaknesses in the browser's core architecture. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer encounters specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory handling, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the victim's system or complete browser crash. This vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the browser's memory management system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The flaw occurs during the processing of web content where Internet Explorer fails to properly validate memory boundaries when handling certain HTML elements or JavaScript constructs. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that contain malformed data structures or exploit specific rendering paths that cause the browser to access memory locations outside of allocated boundaries. This memory corruption can result in stack corruption, heap corruption, or other memory management issues that allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the browser's memory space. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves creating a specific memory layout that, when processed by the browser, triggers the corruption and enables code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer spanning over a decade of browser releases. The attack surface is extensive given that Internet Explorer was widely deployed across enterprise environments, particularly in legacy systems where upgrading browsers was not immediately feasible. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web services that deliver the malicious content. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The denial of service aspect of the vulnerability can also be leveraged to disrupt business operations by causing browser crashes and rendering systems unusable.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security patches released as part of the July 2013 security updates, which specifically addressed this vulnerability through memory management improvements and boundary checks. Browser isolation techniques such as running Internet Explorer in restricted environments or using virtualization layers can help contain potential exploits. Network-based mitigations including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious web content before it reaches vulnerable systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious websites and avoid visiting compromised pages. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and implementing layered security approaches to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited for remote code execution. This case highlights the ongoing need for robust memory safety practices in browser development and the critical importance of timely security updates to protect against sophisticated exploitation techniques.