CVE-2018-0981 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the way that the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Internet Explorer, aka "Scripting Engine Information Disclosure Vulnerability." This affects Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 11, Internet Explorer 10. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0987, CVE-2018-0989, CVE-2018-1000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0981 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer's scripting engine implementation. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the scripting engine processes objects in memory, creating opportunities for unauthorized data exposure that could compromise system security. The affected versions include Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11, which together represent a significant portion of legacy browser deployments that organizations continue to support. The vulnerability's classification as an information disclosure issue places it within the broader category of security flaws that can lead to privilege escalation, data theft, or further exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation flaw occurs within the memory management and object handling mechanisms of Internet Explorer's scripting engine, which is responsible for executing javascript and other scripting languages within the browser environment. When processing certain objects in memory, the engine fails to properly validate or sanitize memory access patterns, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in memory locations. This type of vulnerability typically arises from inadequate bounds checking, improper memory deallocation, or flawed object reference management within the browser's core rendering engine. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management and scripting execution, creating a pathway for attackers to extract information that should remain protected within the browser's memory space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a foundational weakness for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially access memory contents that include sensitive data such as user credentials, session tokens, or application data that may be cached in memory. This information exposure can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of other vulnerabilities present in the system. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Internet Explorer versions creates widespread exposure across organizations that have not fully migrated away from legacy browser platforms, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where older systems remain operational.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching and updates from Microsoft, which would address the underlying memory handling flaws in the scripting engine. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser security policies that include mandatory updates, regular security assessments, and monitoring for exploitation attempts. Network-based defenses such as intrusion detection systems can help identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability by monitoring for characteristic patterns of memory access anomalies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and information gathering. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing browser hardening measures, including disabling unnecessary scripting features, implementing strict content security policies, and maintaining up-to-date security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.