SRC-2016-0045 : Microsoft Internet Explorer HyperlinkString Out-Of-Bounds Read Information Disclosure Vulnerability

CVE ID:

CVE-2016-7278

CVSS Score:

4.3, (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N)

Affected Vendors:

Microsoft

Affected Products:

Internet Explorer

  • MSIE 9
  • MSIE 10
  • MSIE 11

Vulnerability Details:

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose information on vulnerable installations of Microsoft Windows. 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 handling of HyperlinkString values within a HLink structure. A wide character string without a null terminator can lead to an Out-of-Bounds read condition. This vulnerability was reached due to an incorrect patch for SRC-2016-0035. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process.

Vendor Response:

Microsoft has issued an update to correct this vulnerability. More details can be found at: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2016-7278

Disclosure Timeline:

  • 2016-09-21 – Vulnerability reported to vendor
  • 2016-12-13 – Coordinated public release of advisory

Credit:

This vulnerability was discovered by Steven Seeley of Source Incite