CVE-2013-3199 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3199 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 stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating exploitable conditions that adversaries can leverage to gain unauthorized system access. The flaw exists within the browser's memory management mechanisms and affects a wide range of legacy Internet Explorer versions that were prevalent in enterprise environments throughout the early 2010s.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that occurs when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web content. Attackers can construct malicious websites containing malformed data structures that trigger buffer overflows or heap corruption during rendering operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes memory corruption issues, and specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw typically manifests when the browser attempts to parse complex web elements such as JavaScript objects, HTML attributes, or CSS properties that exceed expected memory boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3199 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to enable full system compromise. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where legacy systems remain operational or where users access untrusted web content. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios where social engineering can be employed to deliver malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through Microsoft security updates, as the company released patches specifically addressing this memory corruption flaw in their security bulletins. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to supported Internet Explorer versions or transitioning to modern browser alternatives that have better security track records. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional protection layers, though they cannot fully compensate for the underlying memory corruption issue. Security teams should also implement user education programs to reduce the risk of visiting malicious websites and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and the dangers of running legacy browser versions in production environments where security is paramount.