Zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer

Use-after-free error
CVE-2013-3897

Used in Pawn Storm campaign.
A zero-day was used in highly targeted, low-volume attacks in Korea, Hong Kong, and the United States, as early as September 18th, 2013.

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2013100801 - Remote code execution in Microsoft Internet Explorer

Vulnerable component: Microsoft Internet Explorer

CVE-ID: CVE-2013-3897

CVSSv3 score: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

CWE-ID: CWE-416 - Use After Free

Description:

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The weakness exists due to user-after-free vulnerability in the CDisplayPointer object. A remote attacker can create a specially crafted Web page containing, trick the victim into visiting it, trigger memory corruption and execute arbitrary code with privileges of the current user.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability results in arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system.

Note: the vulnerability was being actively exploited.

Public Exploits:

- Microsoft Internet Explorer - CDisplayPointer Use-After-Free (MS13-080) (Metasploit) [Exploit-DB]

External links:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms13-080.aspx
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/srd/2013/10/08/ms13-080-addresses-two-vulnerabilities-under-limi... https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms13-080 http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cyber-attacks/operation-pawn-storm-fast-facts
https://blogs.forcepoint.com/security-labs/zero-day-attack-internet-explorer-cve-2013-3897-goes-high...
http://blog.talosintel.com/2013/10/ie-zero-day-cve-2013-3897-youve-been.html
https://www.mysonicwall.com/sonicalert/searchresults.aspx?ev=article&id=607
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/vulnerability.jsp?bid=62811
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/attacksignatures/detail.jsp?asid=27102
https://media.paloaltonetworks.com/lp/endpoint-security/blog/cve-2013-3897-analysis-of-yet-another-i...
http://eromang.zataz.com/2015/12/23/cve-2013-3897-microsoft-internet-explorer-cdisplaypointer-use-af...
https://vulners.com/metasploit/MSF:EXPLOIT/WINDOWS/BROWSER/MS13_080_CDISPLAYPOINTER
https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/new-internet-explorer-zero-day-targeted-attacks-against-korea...
http://www.benhayak.com/2013_11_01_archive.html
https://www.trustwave.com/Resources/SpiderLabs-Blog/The-Technical-Aspects-of-Exploiting-IE-Zero-Day-...
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/10/adobe-microsoft-push-critical-security-fixes-3/#more-23010

About zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerability is an undisclosed vulnerability in software that hackers can exploit to compromise computer programs, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, penetrate networks, etc. We consider vulnerability a zero-day when there is no solution provided from software vendor and the vulnerability is being actively exploited by malicious actors.

Zero-day candidate is a potential zero-day vulnerability in software which might have been used in targeted attacks, however there is no evidence to support this suggestion.