TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative

Microsoft Internet Explorer substringData Heap Overflow Vulnerability

ZDI-07-048: August 14th, 2007

CVE ID

Affected Vendors

Affected Products

Vulnerability Details

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

The specific flaw exists in the substringData() method available on the TextNode JavaScript object. When specific parameters are passed to the method, an integer overflow occurs causing incorrect memory allocation. If this event occurs after a different ActiveX object has been instantiated, an exploitable condition is created when the ActiveX object is deallocated which can result in the execution of arbitrary code.

Vendor Response

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

Disclosure Timeline

    2006-10-03 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2007-08-14 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Anonymous