Internet Explorer CVE-2010-0249 'srcElement()' Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Risk
High
Date Discovered
January 14, 2010
Description
Internet Explorer is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code in the context of the user running the browser. Successful exploits will compromise the application and possibly the computer. Failed attacks will cause denial-of-service conditions.
Technologies Affected
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Client Registration Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Recording Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Streaming Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Web Conferencing Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Webportal
* Avaya Messaging Application Server
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 1.1
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 2.0
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 3.0
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 3.1
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 8
Recommendations
Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
To reduce the impact of latent vulnerabilities, always run nonadministrative software as an unprivileged user with minimal access rights.
Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of anomalous or suspicious activity. This includes but is not limited to requests that include NOP sleds and unexplained incoming and outgoing traffic. This may indicate exploit attempts or activity that results from successful exploits.
Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Web users should be cautious about following links to sites that are provided by unfamiliar or suspicious sources. Filtering HTML from emails may help remove a possible vector for transmitting malicious links to users.
Set web browser security to disable the execution of script code or active content.
Since a successful exploit of this issue requires malicious code to execute in web clients, consider disabling support for script code and active content within the client browser. Note that this mitigation tactic might adversely affect legitimate websites that rely on the execution of browser-based script code.
Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Memory-protection schemes (such as nonexecutable stack and heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments) will complicate exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.
A vendor advisory and updates are available; please see the references for more information.
References
* BugSec - 21.01.10 Internet Explorer CVE-2010-0249 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
* Microsoft - Advisory 979352 Update for Monday January 18
* Microsoft - Further Insight into Security Advisory 979352 and the Threat Landscape
* Microsoft - Internet Explorer Homepage
* Metasploit - Reproducing the 'Aurora' IE Exploit
* Microsoft Security Response Center - Security Advisory 979352 – Going out of Band
* Microsoft Security Response Center - Security Advisory 979352 Released
Credits
This issue was discovered in the wild; Microsoft credits Meron Sellem of BugSec.
High
Date Discovered
January 14, 2010
Description
Internet Explorer is prone to a remote code-execution vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code in the context of the user running the browser. Successful exploits will compromise the application and possibly the computer. Failed attacks will cause denial-of-service conditions.
Technologies Affected
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Client Registration Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Recording Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Streaming Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Web Conferencing Server
* Avaya Meeting Exchange - Webportal
* Avaya Messaging Application Server
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 1.1
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 2.0
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 3.0
* Avaya Messaging Application Server MM 3.1
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0
* Microsoft Internet Explorer 8
Recommendations
Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
To reduce the impact of latent vulnerabilities, always run nonadministrative software as an unprivileged user with minimal access rights.
Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of anomalous or suspicious activity. This includes but is not limited to requests that include NOP sleds and unexplained incoming and outgoing traffic. This may indicate exploit attempts or activity that results from successful exploits.
Do not follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Web users should be cautious about following links to sites that are provided by unfamiliar or suspicious sources. Filtering HTML from emails may help remove a possible vector for transmitting malicious links to users.
Set web browser security to disable the execution of script code or active content.
Since a successful exploit of this issue requires malicious code to execute in web clients, consider disabling support for script code and active content within the client browser. Note that this mitigation tactic might adversely affect legitimate websites that rely on the execution of browser-based script code.
Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Memory-protection schemes (such as nonexecutable stack and heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments) will complicate exploits of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.
A vendor advisory and updates are available; please see the references for more information.
References
* BugSec - 21.01.10 Internet Explorer CVE-2010-0249 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
* Microsoft - Advisory 979352 Update for Monday January 18
* Microsoft - Further Insight into Security Advisory 979352 and the Threat Landscape
* Microsoft - Internet Explorer Homepage
* Metasploit - Reproducing the 'Aurora' IE Exploit
* Microsoft Security Response Center - Security Advisory 979352 – Going out of Band
* Microsoft Security Response Center - Security Advisory 979352 Released
Credits
This issue was discovered in the wild; Microsoft credits Meron Sellem of BugSec.
