Microsoft Internet Explorer up to 6 Embedded HTML memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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3.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer up to 6. It has been rated as problematic. Affected is an unknown function of the component Embedded HTML Handler. This manipulation causes memory corruption. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2004-1043. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. It is recommended to disable the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer up to 6 (Web Browser). Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function of the component Embedded HTML Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. As an impact it is known to affect integrity. The summary by CVE is:

Internet Explorer 6.0 on Windows XP SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by using the "Related Topics" command in the Help ActiveX Control (hhctrl.ocx) to open a Help popup window containing the PCHealth tools.htm file in the local zone and injecting Javascript to be executed, as demonstrated using "writehta.txt" and the ADODB recordset, which saves a .HTA file to the local system, aka the "HTML Help ActiveX control Cross Domain Vulnerability."

The weakness was shared 01/07/2005 by Paul and Michael Evanchik (http-equiv) with Greyhats Security (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at freehost07.websamba.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2004-1043 since 11/17/2004. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

After even before and not, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is possible to download the exploit at secunia.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 34 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 16123 (MS05-001: HTML Help Code Execution (890175)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 90212 (Microsoft Windows HTML Help Code Execution (MS05-001)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at windowsupdate.microsoft.com. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 3148. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 3215.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (18311), Exploit-DB (719), Tenable (16123), SecurityFocus (BID 11467†) and OSVDB (12840†). The entries VDB-916, VDB-1097 and VDB-1098 are related to this item. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.9

VulDB Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.9
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

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

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 16123
Nessus Name: MS05-001: HTML Help Code Execution (890175)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Disable
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Snort ID: 3148
Snort Message: OS-WINDOWS Microsoft Windows HTML Help hhctrl.ocx clsid access attempt
Snort Class: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

SourceFire IPS: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

10/20/2004 🔍
11/17/2004 +28 days 🔍
11/27/2004 +10 days 🔍
12/31/2004 +34 days 🔍
01/02/2005 +2 days 🔍
01/07/2005 +5 days 🔍
01/10/2005 +3 days 🔍
01/11/2005 +1 days 🔍
01/11/2005 +0 days 🔍
01/12/2005 +1 days 🔍
07/06/2025 +7480 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: freehost07.websamba.com
Researcher: Paul, Michael Evanchik (http-equiv)
Organization: Greyhats Security
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-1043 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-1043
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-1099

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 18311 - Microsoft Internet Explorer save file caused by the Related Topics command of the Help ActiveX Control, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 11467 - Microsoft Windows HTML Help Control Cross-Zone Scripting Vulnerability
Secunia: 12889 - Microsoft Internet Explorer Multiple Vulnerabilities, Extremely Critical
OSVDB: 12840 - Microsoft Windows HTML Help Related Topics Arbitrary Command Execution
Vulnerability Center: 6698 - [MS05-001] Internet Explorer 6.0 HTML Help ActiveX Control Allows Remote Code Execution, Medium

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

Entryinfo

Created: 01/10/2005 13:40
Updated: 07/06/2025 22:11
Changes: 01/10/2005 13:40 (97), 04/07/2017 12:01 (5), 03/10/2021 13:13 (2), 01/03/2025 15:42 (21), 07/06/2025 22:11 (3)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:9BA:103

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