CVE-2016-0108 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-2016-0106, CVE-2016-0109, and CVE-2016-0114.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory allocation and management during web page rendering processes, creating opportunities for exploitation that differ significantly from related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-0102, CVE-2016-0103, CVE-2016-0106, CVE-2016-0109, and CVE-2016-0114. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code that triggers improper memory handling, leading to buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions within the browser's memory management subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components where memory corruption occurs during the processing of malformed web content. Attackers can craft web pages containing malicious scripts or HTML elements that, when loaded in Internet Explorer 11, cause the browser to allocate memory incorrectly or access memory locations that have already been freed. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, or alternatively trigger a denial of service condition that crashes the browser application. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires user interaction through visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant threat to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer 11 remains in use, as it provides attackers with a reliable method to gain unauthorized access to systems. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) demonstrates its fundamental nature as a memory safety issue that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access. Organizations running legacy systems or those unable to immediately migrate from Internet Explorer face substantial risk exposure, as the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering tactics to compromise user systems. The attack surface extends beyond individual users to include enterprise networks where browser-based attacks can serve as initial access vectors for broader compromise operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the vendor has released specific fixes addressing the memory corruption issues in Internet Explorer 11. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary features, restricting JavaScript execution in sensitive contexts, and employing sandboxing technologies to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious web content targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and suspicious email attachments that may contain malicious web content. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems to identify potential attack signatures associated with this specific vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, highlighting its role in lateral movement and persistent access within compromised environments.