Microsoft Windows up to XP/Server 2003 HTML Converter memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.1$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as very critical has been found in Microsoft Windows up to XP/Server 2003. Affected is an unknown function of the component HTML Converter. Such manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2003-0469. The attack may be launched remotely. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Microsoft Windows up to XP/Server 2003 (Operating System). Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the component HTML Converter. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The bug was discovered 06/21/2003. The weakness was shared 07/09/2003 by Digital Scream with Microsoft as MS03-023 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). The advisory is shared for download at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2003-0469 since 06/26/2003. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

The exploit is available at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 18 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 11878 (MS03-023: Buffer Overrun In HTML Converter Could Allow Code Execution (823559)), 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 90192 (Microsoft Windows HTML Converter HR Align Buffer Overflow Vulnerability (MS03-023)).

Applying the patch MS03-023 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at support.microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 2218.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (12444), Exploit-DB (22824), Tenable (11878), SecurityFocus (BID 8016†) and OSVDB (2963†). microsoft.com is providing further details. The entry VDB-120 is related to this item. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.1

VulDB Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

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: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 11878
Nessus Name: MS03-023: Buffer Overrun In HTML Converter Could Allow Code Execution (823559)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 11878
OpenVAS Name: Buffer Overrun In HTML Converter Could Allow Code Execution (823559)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
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Patch: MS03-023
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/21/2003 🔍
06/23/2003 +2 days 🔍
06/23/2003 +0 days 🔍
06/26/2003 +3 days 🔍
07/09/2003 +13 days 🔍
07/09/2003 +0 days 🔍
07/09/2003 +0 days 🔍
07/13/2003 +4 days 🔍
08/07/2003 +25 days 🔍
10/13/2003 +67 days 🔍
08/13/2025 +7975 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS03-023
Researcher: Digital Scream
Organization: Microsoft
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2003-0469 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2003-0469
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-164
CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 12444
SecurityFocus: 8016 - Microsoft Windows HTML Converter HR Align Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
OSVDB: 2963 - Microsoft Internet Explorer HTML conversion library buffer overflow
SecuriTeam: securiteam.com
Vulnerability Center: 1411 - [MS03-023] Buffer Overflow in Microsoft Internet Explorer HTML Conversion Library, Medium

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

Entryinfo

Created: 07/09/2003 02:00
Updated: 08/13/2025 15:11
Changes: 07/09/2003 02:00 (94), 06/26/2019 09:17 (5), 03/08/2021 14:05 (2), 12/31/2024 05:06 (15), 03/28/2025 22:34 (1), 08/13/2025 15:11 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:6CD:103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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