TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative
 

Microsoft Internet Explorer insertAdjacentText Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

ZDI-12-193: December 21st, 2012

CVE ID

CVSS Score

Affected Vendors

Affected Products

TippingPoint™ IPS Customer Protection

TippingPoint IPS customers are protected against this vulnerability by Digital Vaccine protection filter ID 12383. For further product information on the TippingPoint IPS:

Vulnerability Details


This vulnerability allows remote 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 or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the way Internet Explorer handles repeated calls to insertAdjacentText. When the size of the element reaches a certain threshold Internet Explorer fails to correctly relocate key elements. An unitialized variable in one of the function can cause memory corruption. This can lead to remote code execution under the context of the program.

Vendor Response

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

Disclosure Timeline

    2012-03-14 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2012-12-21 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Anonymous