TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative

Microsoft Internet Explorer Language Pack Installation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

ZDI-07-037: June 12th, 2007

CVE ID

Affected Vendors

Affected Products

Vulnerability Details

This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Microsoft Internet Explorer. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page.

The specific flaw exists in routines responsible for the on-demand installation of Internet Explorer language packs. A race condition may occur when a web page contains several pieces of content written in a language not currently supported by any of the installed language packs. In some cases, this race condition results in exploitable memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code.

Vendor Response

Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:

Disclosure Timeline

    2006-11-08 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2007-06-12 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Anonymous