Microsoft Internet Explorer up to 6 ActiveX COM Object memory corruption

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

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Microsoft Internet Explorer up to 6. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component ActiveX COM Object Handler. Performing a manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2005-1990. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. Furthermore, an exploit is available. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer up to 6 (Web Browser). This affects an unknown functionality of the component ActiveX COM Object Handler. 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 07/13/2005. The weakness was published 08/09/2005 by Bernhard Mueller with Microsoft as MS05-038 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). It is possible to read the advisory at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2005-1990 since 06/17/2005. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

After 2 days, there has been an exploit disclosed. The exploit is shared for download at frsirt.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 27 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 19401 (MS05-038: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (896727)), 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 100029 (Microsoft Internet Explorer Cumulative Patch Not Installed (MS05-038)).

Applying the patch MS05-038 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at windowsupdate.microsoft.com. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 4134. In this case the pattern 3F8A6C33-E0FD-11D0-8A8C-00A0C90C2BC5 is used for detection.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (21704), Tenable (19401), SecurityFocus (BID 14511†), OSVDB (18612†) and Secunia (SA16373†). Similar entries are available at VDB-1693 and VDB-1694. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality 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: 6.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
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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Price Prediction: 🔍
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Nessus ID: 19401
Nessus Name: MS05-038: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (896727)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

Saint ID: exploit_info/ie_com_instantiation
Saint Name: Internet Explorer COM object instantiation vulnerability

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Patch: MS05-038

Snort ID: 4134
Snort Message: WEB-CLIENT blnmgr clsid attempt
Snort Pattern: 🔍

Suricata ID: 2002171
Suricata Class: 🔍
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McAfee IPS: 🔍
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SourceFire IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
Fortigate IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/17/2005 🔍
07/13/2005 +26 days 🔍
08/09/2005 +27 days 🔍
08/09/2005 +0 days 🔍
08/09/2005 +0 days 🔍
08/09/2005 +0 days 🔍
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08/10/2005 +0 days 🔍
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08/10/2005 +0 days 🔍
08/11/2005 +1 days 🔍
06/30/2025 +7263 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS05-038
Researcher: Bernhard Mueller
Organization: Microsoft
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2005-1990 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2005-1990
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-1695

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 21704
SecurityFocus: 14511 - Microsoft Internet Explorer COM Object Instantiation Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Secunia: 16373 - Internet Explorer Three Vulnerabilities, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 18612 - Microsoft IE Multiple COM Object Embedded CLSID Arbitrary Remote Code Execution
SecurityTracker: 1014643 - Microsoft Internet Explorer COM Object Instantiation Bug May Let Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Code
Vulnerability Center: 8895 - [MS05-038] Microsoft Internet Explorer Allows DoS via COM Objects, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2005-1353

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

Entryinfo

Created: 08/10/2005 12:16
Updated: 06/30/2025 09:17
Changes: 08/10/2005 12:16 (98), 04/07/2017 12:01 (16), 03/11/2021 20:25 (2), 03/11/2021 20:29 (2), 01/04/2025 17:39 (15), 06/30/2025 09:17 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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