Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 mshta.exe memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5. It has been rated as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file mshta.exe. This manipulation causes memory corruption. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2004-2291. The attack can be initiated remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 (Web Browser). It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function of the file mshta.exe. 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 confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an embedded script that uses Shell Helper objects and a shortcut (link) to execute the target script.

The issue has been introduced in 07/08/2000. The weakness was released 01/01/2004 by http-equiv as not defined posting (Bugtraq). It is possible to read the advisory at archives.neohapsis.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2004-2291 since 08/04/2005. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details and also a public exploit are known.

A public exploit has been developed by Jelmer and been published before and not just after the advisory. It is possible to download the exploit at malware.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1272 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 4168.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (14127), Exploit-DB (310), SecurityFocus (BID 9335†) and OSVDB (7913†). 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: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
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
Author: Jelmer
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Snort ID: 4168

Suricata ID: 2003233
Suricata Class: 🔍
Suricata Message: 🔍

Timelineinfo

07/08/2000 🔍
01/01/2004 +1272 days 🔍
01/01/2004 +0 days 🔍
01/02/2004 +0 days 🔍
07/09/2004 +189 days 🔍
07/15/2004 +6 days 🔍
12/31/2004 +168 days 🔍
08/04/2005 +216 days 🔍
03/09/2015 +3504 days 🔍
09/14/2025 +3842 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: archives.neohapsis.com
Researcher: http-equiv
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-2291 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-2291
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-23191
X-Force: 14127
SecurityFocus: 9335 - Microsoft Internet Explorer Malicious Shortcut Self-Executing HTML Vulnerability
OSVDB: 7913 - Microsoft IE Shell.Application ActiveX Arbitrary Command Execution

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

Entryinfo

Created: 03/09/2015 16:19
Updated: 09/14/2025 04:02
Changes: 03/09/2015 16:19 (61), 05/07/2019 12:40 (12), 09/14/2025 04:02 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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