Product:
Internet Explorer
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) token sequences and the clip attribute. This issue is also known as an invalid flag reference or Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability. It was actively exploited in the wild in November 2010.
Details
| Severity | Base Score | CVE |
|---|---|---|
| HIGH | 8.1 | CVE-2010-3962 |
Exploitation
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker can craft a malicious web page that triggers the use-after-free condition in Internet Explorer. When a user visits the compromised page, the attacker can execute arbitrary code on the user’s system, potentially gaining full control over the affected machine. This requires the user to interact with the malicious content, making user awareness crucial in preventing exploitation.
Affected Products
- Internet Explorer 6: Affected by the use-after-free vulnerability allowing remote code execution.
- Internet Explorer 7: Vulnerable to exploitation through crafted CSS token sequences.
- Internet Explorer 8: Also susceptible to the same use-after-free issue, enabling arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to upgrade to a newer version of Internet Explorer or apply the latest security patches provided by Microsoft. Additionally, employing security measures such as disabling Active Scripting and using alternative browsers can help reduce the risk of exploitation.