TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative

Microsoft Internet Explorer Prototype Dereference Code Execution Vulnerability

ZDI-07-038: 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 flaw is specifically exposed when a prototype variable points to a table cell and then that table cell is removed. This results in an invalid pointer dereference which can be leveraged to result in arbitrary code execution.

Vendor Response

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

Disclosure Timeline

    2007-02-15 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2007-06-12 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Sam Thomas