Advisory Details

January 12th, 2016

Microsoft Internet Explorer NewMessage Protected Mode Sandbox Escape Vulnerability

ZDI-16-018
ZDI-CAN-3330

CVE ID CVE-2016-0020
CVSS SCORE 4.4, AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
AFFECTED VENDORS Microsoft
AFFECTED PRODUCTS Internet Explorer
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 or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the IShdocvwBroker::NewMessage API. Calling this API causes the broker process to load a DLL from a potentially unsafe location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the user at medium integrity.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
  • 2015-10-08 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2016-01-12 - Coordinated public release of advisory
CREDIT Ashutosh Mehra (https://twitter.com/ashutoshmehra)
BACK TO ADVISORIES