Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 CTreeNode Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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 CTreeNode objects. By manipulating a document's elements an attacker can force a dangling pointer to be reused after it has been freed. The issue lies in a possible type confusion between a CTreeNode object and an ISpanQualifier instance during the layout of a document being performed. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code under the context of the current process.
Additional Details
Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/advisory/2757760
Disclosure Timeline
- 2012-07-24 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
- 2012-12-21 - Coordinated public release of advisory
Credit
Stephen Fewer of Harmony Security (www.harmonysecurity.com)
