Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Scripting Engine memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Scripting Engine. The manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2018-8291. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. Furthermore, an exploit is available. Applying a patch is advised to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 (Web Browser). Affected is an unknown functionality of the component Scripting Engine. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The bug was discovered 07/10/2018. The weakness was published 07/10/2018 by lokihardt with Google Project Zero as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The public release has been coordinated with the vendor. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2018-8291 since 03/14/2018. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available. The advisory points out:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Microsoft browsers. The vulnerability could corrupt memory in such a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

The exploit is shared for download at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 110981 (KB4338824: Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 July 2018 Security Update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Windows : Microsoft Bulletins and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 100339 (Microsoft Internet Explorer Security Update for July 2018).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (45215), Tenable (110981) and SecurityFocus (BID 104637†). Similar entries are available at VDB-121068, VDB-121076, VDB-121077 and VDB-121079. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.8

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

Vendor Base Score (Microsoft): 4.2
Vendor Vector (Microsoft): 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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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: 110981
Nessus Name: KB4338824: Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 July 2018 Security Update
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

03/14/2018 🔍
07/10/2018 +117 days 🔍
07/10/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/10/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/10/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/10/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/10/2018 +0 days 🔍
07/11/2018 +1 days 🔍
09/08/2025 +2616 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: portal.msrc.microsoft.com
Researcher: lokihardt
Organization: Google Project Zero
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍
Coordinated: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-8291 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-8291
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-121080

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 104637 - Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge CVE-2018-8291 Remote Memory Corruption Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1041256

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

Entryinfo

Created: 07/11/2018 09:40
Updated: 09/08/2025 11:30
Changes: 07/11/2018 09:40 (87), 03/01/2020 13:51 (10), 04/05/2023 14:40 (5), 09/08/2025 11:30 (14)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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