Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x HTML Help memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component HTML Help. Such manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2004-0985. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x (Web Browser). It has been rated as very critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown function of the component HTML Help. 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. CVE summarizes:

Internet Explorer 6.x on Windows XP SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated using a document with a draggable file type such as .xml, .doc, .py, .cdf, .css, .pdf, or .ppt, and using ADODB.Connection and ADODB.recordset to write to a .hta file that is interpreted in the Local Zone by HTML Help.

The issue has been introduced in 03/22/2001. The weakness was disclosed 12/31/2004 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at xforce.iss.net. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2004-0985. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 07/07/2025). It is expected to see the exploit prices for this product decreasing in the near future.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1380 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $100k and more. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 100019 (Windows XP SP2 Internet Explorer Drag and Drop and Local Security Zone Lockdown Bypass).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (17824) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-5685†). The entry VDB-22650 is pretty similar. 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: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

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

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

03/22/2001 🔍
10/25/2004 +1312 days 🔍
10/25/2004 +0 days 🔍
10/28/2004 +3 days 🔍
12/31/2004 +64 days 🔍
12/31/2004 +0 days 🔍
06/22/2015 +3825 days 🔍
07/07/2025 +3667 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: xforce.iss.net
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-0985 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-0985
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-22652
X-Force: 17824
Vulnerability Center: 5685 - Internet Explorer 6.0 SP2 Allows Code Execution, Medium

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/22/2015 15:55
Updated: 07/07/2025 00:07
Changes: 06/22/2015 15:55 (58), 05/07/2019 12:39 (1), 06/30/2021 15:37 (2), 07/07/2025 00:07 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:766:103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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