CVE-2013-3209 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 and 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-2013-3201, CVE-2013-3203, CVE-2013-3206, and CVE-2013-3207.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 and 10 that enables remote code execution through malicious web content. The 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 specifically affects how Internet Explorer processes certain web elements, leading to unpredictable memory behavior that can be manipulated by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves heap corruption techniques that exploit memory management flaws within the browser's rendering engine. Attackers craft malicious web pages containing specially formatted content that triggers buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions in Internet Explorer's memory allocation routines. These memory corruption issues typically occur when the browser attempts to process malformed data structures, particularly in JavaScript engines or HTML parsing components. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787 as "Out-of-bounds Write" according to the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy, reflecting the core memory management failures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, as it can be exploited through simple web navigation without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. The attack surface is extensive since any web page can potentially serve as an exploitation vector, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content through phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or drive-by download scenarios. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially enable full system takeover, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats and nation-state actors.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly techniques related to initial access through malicious web content and privilege escalation via code execution. Security professionals should consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and browser isolation solutions to mitigate the risk. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies including browser hardening, user education, and network segmentation. Organizations should also consider transitioning away from legacy Internet Explorer versions to modern browser alternatives that receive regular security updates and have more robust memory safety mechanisms. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely patch management and the inherent risks associated with supporting outdated software platforms that no longer receive security updates from vendors.