Microsoft Internet Explorer XHTML DOM Manipulation Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable installations of Microsoft Internet Explorer. User interaction is required in that a user must visit a malicious web page.
The specific flaw exists in the manipulation and parsing of certain HTML tags. The ordering of various objects in a malformed way results in memory corruption resulting in a call to a dangling pointer which can be further leveraged via a heap spray. Exploitation of this vulnerability will lead to remote system compromise under the credentials of the currently logged in user.
Additional Details
Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms09-072.mspx
Disclosure Timeline
- 2009-06-23 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
- 2009-12-08 - Coordinated public release of advisory
Credit
Sam Thomas of eshu.co.uk
