Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
3.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects unknown code. Executing a manipulation can lead to an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2004-1043. The attack can be executed remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is recommended to use an alternative to replace the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 (Web Browser). It has been declared as critical. As an impact it is known to affect integrity. CVE summarizes:

Internet Explorer 6.0 on Windows XP SP2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by using the "Related Topics" command in the Help ActiveX Control (hhctrl.ocx) to open a Help popup window containing the PCHealth tools.htm file in the local zone and injecting Javascript to be executed, as demonstrated using "writehta.txt" and the ADODB recordset, which saves a .HTA file to the local system, aka the "HTML Help ActiveX control Cross Domain Vulnerability."

The issue has been introduced in 08/27/2001. The weakness was released 10/20/2004 by http-equiv with malware.com as MS05-001 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at lists.netsys.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2004-1043 since 11/17/2004. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

After 2 months, there has been an exploit disclosed. It is possible to download the exploit at lists.netsys.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1150 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 16123 (MS05-001: HTML Help Code Execution (890175)), 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 90212 (Microsoft Windows HTML Help Code Execution (MS05-001)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at windowsupdate.microsoft.com. The problem might be mitigated by replacing the product with as an alternative. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be establishing an alternative product. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 3148.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (18311), Exploit-DB (719), Tenable (16123), SecurityFocus (BID 11467†) and OSVDB (12840†). Additional details are provided at securityfocus.com. Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-1097, VDB-1099 and VDB-1098. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Support

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.9

VulDB Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.9
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Unknown
CWE: Unknown
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: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 16123
Nessus Name: MS05-001: HTML Help Code Execution (890175)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Alternative
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Patch: windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Snort ID: 3148
Snort Message: OS-WINDOWS Microsoft Windows HTML Help hhctrl.ocx clsid access attempt
Snort Class: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/27/2001 🔍
10/20/2004 +1150 days 🔍
10/21/2004 +1 days 🔍
11/17/2004 +27 days 🔍
11/27/2004 +10 days 🔍
12/31/2004 +34 days 🔍
01/11/2005 +11 days 🔍
01/12/2005 +1 days 🔍
07/06/2025 +7480 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com

Advisory: MS05-001
Researcher: http-equiv
Organization: malware.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2004-1043 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-1043
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-916

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 18311 - Microsoft Internet Explorer save file caused by the Related Topics command of the Help ActiveX Control, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 11467 - Microsoft Windows HTML Help Control Cross-Zone Scripting Vulnerability
Secunia: 12889 - Microsoft Internet Explorer Multiple Vulnerabilities, Extremely Critical
OSVDB: 12840 - Microsoft Windows HTML Help Related Topics Arbitrary Command Execution
SecurityTracker: 1012836 - Microsoft HTML Help Active Control Cross-Domain Error Lets Remote Users Execute Arbitrary Commands
Vulnerability Center: 6698

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

Entryinfo

Created: 10/21/2004 13:52
Updated: 07/06/2025 22:11
Changes: 10/21/2004 13:52 (69), 04/07/2017 12:00 (20), 03/10/2021 08:06 (8), 03/10/2021 08:12 (1), 07/06/2024 04:45 (17), 01/03/2025 14:55 (3), 07/06/2025 22:11 (3)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Might our Artificial Intelligence support you?

Check our Alexa App!