CVE-2018-8653 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Internet Explorer, aka "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability." This affects Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 11, Internet Explorer 10. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8643.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer's scripting engine that enables remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects Internet Explorer versions 9, 10, and 11, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread deployment of these legacy browsers in enterprise environments. The flaw occurs during the handling of objects in memory, where improper memory management allows attackers to manipulate script engine operations and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory corruption issues typically arise when the scripting engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries during object manipulation, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. The vulnerability exploits the way JavaScript and VBScript are processed within Internet Explorer's engine, particularly when handling complex object hierarchies and memory allocations that occur during script execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it allows remote attackers to execute malicious code without user interaction once a victim visits a compromised webpage. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain full system compromise, escalate privileges, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's remote execution capability makes it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks where adversaries can craft malicious web pages to exploit the flaw, and it can be combined with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated exploitation chains. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromises, and potential lateral movement within their networks.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Internet Explorer versions, as Microsoft released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and web application firewalls to block access to known malicious domains. Browser isolation techniques and mandatory use of modern browsers like Microsoft Edge or Chrome can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping legacy browser components updated and highlights the risks associated with running unsupported software versions. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement proper incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential compromises. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the dangers of continued use of legacy browser software in enterprise environments.