TippingPoint Zero Day Initiative
 

Microsoft Internet Explorer OnBeforeDeactivate Event Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

ZDI-12-194: December 21st, 2012

CVE ID

CVSS Score

Affected Vendors

Affected Products

TippingPoint™ IPS Customer Protection

TippingPoint IPS customers are protected against this vulnerability by Digital Vaccine protection filter ID 12388. For further product information on the TippingPoint IPS:

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 the onbeforedeactivate callback function for certain elements. During the execution of the onbeforedeactivate callback function it is possible to alter the DOM tree of the page which can lead to a use-after-free vulnerability when the function returns. This can result in remote code execution under the context of the current process.

Vendor Response

Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at:

Disclosure Timeline

    2012-03-14 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
    2012-12-21 - Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit

This vulnerability was discovered by:
    Anonymous