CVE-2017-8741 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Internet Explorer in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1, Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, and Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user, due to the way that the Microsoft browser JavaScript engines render content when handling objects in memory, aka "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-8649, CVE-2017-8660, CVE-2017-8729, CVE-2017-8738, CVE-2017-8740, CVE-2017-8741, CVE-2017-8748, CVE-2017-8752, CVE-2017-8753, CVE-2017-8755, CVE-2017-8756, and CVE-2017-11764.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer's scripting engine that affects multiple operating system versions and browser implementations. The issue manifests when the JavaScript engine processes objects in memory, creating conditions where attackers can manipulate memory structures to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the browser handles memory management during script execution, allowing for potential code injection attacks that bypass standard security protections. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted web content that triggers memory corruption in the scripting engine's memory handling routines. When Internet Explorer processes malformed JavaScript or HTML content, the engine's memory management system fails to properly validate object references, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to inject and execute malicious code. The attack typically requires user interaction through visiting a malicious website or opening a specially crafted document that contains the exploit code. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks and potentially gain full system control, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple Microsoft operating systems and browser implementations, creating widespread exposure for organizations using affected versions. The vulnerability affects Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 10 versions, including both Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge browsers, meaning that organizations must address the issue across their entire browser ecosystem. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be exploited in the wild, with documented cases of attackers using it to deliver malware and establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction and can be automated, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise large numbers of systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including deploying Microsoft security updates, enabling enhanced security features in Internet Explorer, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls. The vulnerability can be addressed through standard patch management procedures, though organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls including browser hardening measures, content filtering solutions, and user education programs to reduce exposure. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network detection capabilities to identify potential attacks targeting this vulnerability. The remediation process requires careful testing to ensure that security updates do not break existing applications while maintaining adequate protection against the memory corruption exploit. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and reducing the attack surface by disabling unnecessary browser features and plugins that could be leveraged in conjunction with this vulnerability.