Microsoft Outlook Express MHTML memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Microsoft Outlook Express. Affected is an unknown function of the component MHTML Handler. This manipulation causes memory corruption. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2002-0980. The attack may be initiated remotely. In addition, an exploit is available. To fix this issue, it is recommended to deploy a patch.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Outlook Express (Groupware Software). It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component MHTML Handler. 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, and integrity. The summary by CVE is:

The Web Folder component for Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0 writes an error message to a known location in the temporary folder, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by injecting it into the error message, then referring to the error message file via a mhtml: URL.

The weakness was presented 04/15/2003 by http-equiv with Microsoft as MS03-014 as confirmed bulletin (Technet). It is possible to read the advisory at microsoft.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2002-0980. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

After before and not just, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is possible to download the exploit at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 41 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k.

Applying the patch MS03-014 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at microsoft.com.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (9881), Exploit-DB (21711), SecurityFocus (BID 5473†), OSVDB (3053†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-2341†). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Support

  • end of life (old version)

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.3

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: MS03-014

Timelineinfo

08/14/2002 🔍
08/15/2002 +1 days 🔍
09/24/2002 +40 days 🔍
09/24/2002 +0 days 🔍
04/15/2003 +203 days 🔍
04/15/2003 +0 days 🔍
10/13/2003 +181 days 🔍
12/17/2003 +65 days 🔍
06/23/2025 +7858 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS03-014
Researcher: Discovery (http-equiv)
Organization: Microsoft
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2002-0980 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-0980
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-43
X-Force: 9881 - Microsoft Internet Explorer \, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 5473 - Microsoft Outlook Express MHTML URL Handler File Rendering Vulnerability
OSVDB: 3053 - Microsoft IE Web Folder Script Injection
Vulnerability Center: 2341 - [MS03-014] Microsoft Internet Explorer/Outlook Express Web Folder MHTML Script Injection, Medium

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

Entryinfo

Created: 04/15/2003 02:00
Updated: 06/23/2025 02:14
Changes: 04/15/2003 02:00 (83), 01/11/2019 11:57 (2), 03/08/2021 08:53 (2), 06/23/2025 02:14 (14)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:407:103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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