CVE-2016-0106 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 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-2016-0102, CVE-2016-0103, CVE-2016-0108, CVE-2016-0109, and CVE-2016-0114.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2022
This vulnerability resides within Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and represents a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through malicious web content. The vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering and processing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. Unlike other vulnerabilities in the same advisory such as CVE-2016-0102, CVE-2016-0103, CVE-2016-0108, CVE-2016-0109, and CVE-2016-0114, this particular flaw manifests through distinct memory corruption patterns that exploit different code paths within the browser's JavaScript engine and rendering components. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of memory allocations and deallocations when processing crafted web content, allowing attackers to manipulate heap memory structures and overwrite critical memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in memory corruption attacks targeting web browsers. The attack vector requires a user to visit a malicious website that contains specially crafted HTML, JavaScript, or ActiveX content designed to trigger the memory corruption during normal browsing operations. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations as it can be exploited through drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites without requiring any additional user interaction beyond normal web browsing. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in web applications to gain unauthorized access, and T1059, which covers the use of command and scripting interpreters for execution. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially resulting in data theft, system infiltration, or further lateral movement within network environments. The memory corruption occurs during the browser's processing of web content, particularly when handling complex JavaScript objects or manipulating DOM elements that trigger memory allocation patterns vulnerable to exploitation. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the vulnerability can be leveraged for persistent malware installation and remote access capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently browse the internet. Organizations should consider implementing network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to known malicious domains while awaiting official patches from Microsoft. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing complex web browsers where thousands of lines of code interact with untrusted content, highlighting the need for comprehensive security measures including regular patch management, user education, and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.