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Microsoft Internet Explorer exception handling vulnerability

Vulnerability Note VU#338828

Original Release Date: 2006-06-13 | Last Revised: 2006-06-15

Overview

Microsoft Internet Explorer fails to properly handle exception conditions. This may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code.

Description

Internet Explorer allows objects to register exception handlers. These handlers may not properly handle some conditions, which may cause memory corruption.

Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

Solution

Apply an update

This issue is addressed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-021. This update removes exception handlers from Internet Explorer.


Disable Active scripting

Disabling Active scripting in the Internet Zone (or any zone used by an attacker) appears to help prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. While it does not remove the vulnerability, it does help block known attack vectors. Instructions for disabling Active scripting in the Internet Zone can be found in the Securing Your Web Browser document.

Note that disabling Active scripting in the Internet Zone will reduce the functionality of some web sites.

Vendor Information

338828
 

Microsoft Corporation Affected

Notified:  April 27, 2006 Updated: June 13, 2006

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Please see Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-021.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.


CVSS Metrics

Group Score Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was reported by Secunia Research, who in turn credit Andreas Sandblad.

This document was written by Will Dormann.

Other Information

CVE IDs: CVE-2006-2218
Severity Metric: 17.72
Date Public: 2006-04-23
Date First Published: 2006-06-13
Date Last Updated: 2006-06-15 12:05 UTC
Document Revision: 8

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