Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5/6.0 Error Message cross site scripting

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5/6.0. This affects an unknown function of the component Error Message Handler. The manipulation with the input http://[host.with.unparsable.xml.file]/flaw.xml?<script>alert(document.cookie)</script> leads to cross site scripting. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2003-0446. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. To fix this issue, it is recommended to deploy a patch.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5/6.0 (Web Browser). It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown functionality of the component Error Message Handler. The manipulation with the input value http://[host.with.unparsable.xml.file]/flaw.xml?<script>alert(document.cookie)</script> leads to a cross site scripting vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-80. The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special characters such as "<", ">", and "&" that could be interpreted as web-scripting elements when they are sent to a downstream component that processes web pages. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Cross-site scripting (XSS) in Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0, possibly in a component that is also used by other Microsoft products, allows remote attackers to insert arbitrary web script via an XML file that contains a parse error, which inserts the script in the resulting error message.

The issue has been introduced in 07/08/2000. The weakness was disclosed 06/17/2003 by Matt Moore with GreyMagic Software, Israel (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at sec.greymagic.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2003-0446 since 06/19/2003. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1059.007 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

After before and not just, there has been an exploit disclosed. The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1074 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11492 (Sambar Server Multiple Script XSS), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CGI abuses : XSS.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 1497.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (12334), Exploit-DB (22783), Tenable (11492), SecurityFocus (BID 7938†) and OSVDB (3065†). cgisecurity.com is providing further details. The entries VDB-83, VDB-93, VDB-104 and VDB-110 are pretty similar. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Cross site scripting
CWE: CWE-80 / CWE-74 / CWE-707
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

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EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 11492
Nessus Name: Sambar Server Multiple Script XSS
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: microsoft.com

Snort ID: 1497

Timelineinfo

07/08/2000 🔍
02/18/2003 +955 days 🔍
06/17/2003 +119 days 🔍
06/17/2003 +0 days 🔍
06/17/2003 +0 days 🔍
06/19/2003 +2 days 🔍
07/24/2003 +35 days 🔍
12/17/2003 +146 days 🔍
05/22/2005 +521 days 🔍
03/18/2025 +7240 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: sec.greymagic.com
Researcher: Matt Moore
Organization: GreyMagic Software, Israel
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2003-0446 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2003-0446
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-107
X-Force: 12334 - Microsoft Internet Explorer MSXML cross-site scripting, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 7938 - Microsoft Internet Explorer MSXML XML File Parsing Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability
Secunia: 9055 - Internet Explorer XML File Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability, Less Critical
OSVDB: 3065 - Microsoft IE Unparsable XML File XSS
Vulnerability Center: 8052 - XSS in Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0 via MSXML Error Message, Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
Misc.: 🔍
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/17/2003 02:00
Updated: 03/18/2025 14:24
Changes: 06/17/2003 02:00 (64), 04/07/2017 12:00 (27), 03/08/2021 11:57 (3), 03/18/2025 14:24 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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