Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 XMLHttpRequest Calls input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6. This affects an unknown part of the component XMLHttpRequest Calls Handler. The manipulation leads to input validation. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2008-1544. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (Web Browser) and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component XMLHttpRequest Calls Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

The setRequestHeader method of the XMLHttpRequest object in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, and 7 does not block dangerous HTTP request headers when certain 8-bit character sequences are appended to a header name, which allows remote attackers to (1) conduct HTTP request splitting and HTTP request smuggling attacks via an incorrect Content-Length header, (2) access arbitrary virtual hosts via a modified Host header, (3) bypass referrer restrictions via an incorrect Referer header, and (4) bypass the same-origin policy and obtain sensitive information via a crafted request header.

The issue has been introduced in 03/22/2001. The weakness was disclosed 03/28/2008 by Stefano Di Paola (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at us-cert.gov. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2008-1544. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 2563 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 33133 (MS08-031: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (950759)), 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 100058 (Microsoft Internet Explorer Cumulative Security Update (MS08-031)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 6156.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (42693), Tenable (33133), SecurityFocus (BID 28379†), Secunia (SA29453†) and SecurityTracker (ID 1020226†). The entries VDB-3731, VDB-34794, VDB-42733 and VDB-42732 are pretty similar. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

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Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
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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Nessus ID: 33133
Nessus Name: MS08-031: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (950759)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 800103
OpenVAS Name: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (950759)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍
PaloAlto IPS: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

03/22/2001 🔍
03/21/2008 +2556 days 🔍
03/28/2008 +6 days 🔍
03/28/2008 +0 days 🔍
03/28/2008 +0 days 🔍
06/10/2008 +74 days 🔍
06/11/2008 +1 days 🔍
03/16/2015 +2469 days 🔍
06/01/2025 +3730 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: us-cert.gov
Researcher: Stefano Di Paola
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2008-1544 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2008-1544
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-41747

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 42693
SecurityFocus: 28379 - Microsoft Internet Explorer 'setRequestHeader()' Multiple Vulnerabilities
Secunia: 29453
SecurityTracker: 1020226
Vulnerability Center: 18592 - [MS08-031] Microsoft Internet Explorer Allows to Bypass Restrictions and Information Disclosure, Critical

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/16/2015 17:00
Updated: 06/01/2025 04:17
Changes: 03/16/2015 17:00 (69), 05/07/2019 12:42 (10), 07/31/2021 13:16 (3), 07/31/2021 13:22 (1), 01/05/2025 19:41 (17), 04/07/2025 13:44 (1), 06/01/2025 04:17 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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