CVE-2016-3292 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 mishandles integrity settings and zone settings, which allows remote attackers to bypass a sandbox protection mechanism via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 contained a critical vulnerability in their security architecture that fundamentally compromised the browser's sandbox protection mechanisms. This vulnerability originated from improper handling of integrity settings and zone settings within the browser's security model, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate privileges and bypass critical security controls. The flaw existed in how the browser processed security zones and integrity levels, allowing attackers to manipulate these settings in ways that were not properly validated or restricted. This issue represents a classic sandbox escape vulnerability where the boundary protections designed to isolate potentially malicious content were rendered ineffective through careful manipulation of the browser's internal security parameters. The vulnerability specifically affected versions of Internet Explorer that were widely deployed in enterprise environments, making it particularly dangerous due to the extensive attack surface it created.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relied on the attacker's ability to craft a malicious website that could manipulate the browser's security zone classification system. When Internet Explorer processed web content, it would incorrectly evaluate the integrity settings associated with different security zones, allowing malicious code to be executed with elevated privileges that should have been restricted. This flaw enabled attackers to transition from a restricted zone context to a higher privilege execution context, effectively breaking the isolation that the browser's security model was designed to maintain. The vulnerability was particularly insidious because it exploited the trust relationships within the browser's security architecture, where legitimate web content could be manipulated to appear as if it belonged to a more trusted security zone. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within the browser's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe and far-reaching across enterprise networks that relied on Internet Explorer for business operations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on target systems with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise and lateral movement within network environments. The sandbox escape capability meant that attackers could bypass the normal security restrictions that would typically prevent malicious code from accessing sensitive system resources or performing administrative functions. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer faced significant risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and potential use as a foothold for broader network attacks. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous in environments where users had administrative privileges, as the escalation of privilege could lead to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK framework as privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the execution and persistence domains where attackers seek to gain elevated system access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected Internet Explorer versions through Microsoft's security updates, which addressed the core issue in how the browser handled zone and integrity settings. Organizations should have implemented network-based protections such as enhanced firewall rules and content filtering to limit access to potentially malicious websites. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary features and implementing strict security zone policies could have reduced the attack surface. Additionally, security awareness training for users to recognize suspicious website content and avoid visiting untrusted sites became crucial. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered security controls that could provide defense in depth against similar attacks. Organizations should have also considered migrating away from Internet Explorer to more modern browsers with better security architectures, as this vulnerability demonstrated significant weaknesses in the legacy browser's security model that were not adequately addressed through configuration changes alone.