CVE-2013-3845 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and 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."
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2021
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 8 and 9 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability arose from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data could overwrite critical memory regions. The flaw specifically affected how Internet Explorer processed certain HTML elements and JavaScript constructs, leading to unpredictable memory behavior that adversaries could exploit to gain system control. This vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where insufficient input validation allowed attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2013-3845 leveraged memory corruption techniques that align with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. Attackers could craft malicious web pages containing specially formatted HTML tags, JavaScript code, or ActiveX controls that would trigger the vulnerable code path when rendered by the browser. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation and system compromise, as memory corruption in browser processes often provides attackers with elevated access levels. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation typically involved executing malicious scripts within the browser context. The memory corruption occurred during the parsing and rendering of web content, making it particularly dangerous as it could be triggered simply by visiting a compromised website.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe across enterprise environments where Internet Explorer 8 and 9 remained in use, as these versions were prevalent in corporate networks and government systems. Organizations faced significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromise when users visited malicious websites or opened compromised email attachments containing web content. The vulnerability's remote exploitability meant that attackers could target users without requiring physical access or additional reconnaissance, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security controls. Network security teams had to implement immediate patches and browser upgrades to protect their infrastructure, while incident response teams needed to prepare for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlighted the risks associated with legacy browser support and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3845 required immediate patch deployment and browser migration to supported versions. Microsoft released security updates that addressed the memory corruption issue through improved input validation and memory management routines. Organizations should have implemented browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls, implementing enhanced browser security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrated the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include browser isolation, network segmentation, and user education about safe browsing practices. Security professionals needed to monitor exploit indicators and implement threat hunting activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also emphasized the need for regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar issues before they could be exploited by threat actors.