Advisory Details

December 21st, 2012

Microsoft Internet Explorer insertAdjacentText Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

ZDI-12-193
ZDI-CAN-1524

CVE ID CVE-2012-1879
CVSS SCORE 7.5, AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
AFFECTED VENDORS Microsoft
AFFECTED PRODUCTS Internet Explorer
TREND MICRO CUSTOMER PROTECTION Trend Micro TippingPoint IPS customers are protected against this vulnerability by Digital Vaccine protection filter ID ['12383']. For further product information on the TippingPoint IPS: http://www.tippingpoint.com
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.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms12-037
DISCLOSURE TIMELINE
  • 2012-03-14 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2012-12-21 - Coordinated public release of advisory
CREDIT Anonymous
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