Vulnerability Note VU#159220

Microsoft Internet Explorer vulnerable to heap overflow via the HTML Help Control "Image" property

Original Release date: 07 Jul 2006 | Last revised: 08 Aug 2006

Overview

The HTML Help ActiveX control contains a heap overflow vulnerability. This may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system.

Description

ActiveX

ActiveX is a technology that allows programmers to create reusable software components that can be incorporated into applications to extend their functionality. Internet Explorer is a common Windows application that makes use of ActiveX controls.

HTML Help Control

The HTML Help Control (HHCtrl Object) is a Windows ActiveX control that provides the ability to view HTML help files. The HHCtrl Object is included in the file hhctrl.ocx and provides the ProgID (Programmatic Identifier) of Internet.HHCtrl.

The problem

The HHCtrl Object contains a heap overflow vulnerability when the Image property of the control is set. When the Image property is set multiple times, the heap memory can be corrupted.

Impact

By convincing a user to view a specially crafted HTML document (e.g., a web page or an HTML email message or attachment), an attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user. The attacker could also cause Internet Explorer (or the program using the WebBrowser control) to crash.

Solution

Apply an update
This vulnerability is addressed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-046.

Disable ActiveX


Disabling ActiveX controls in the Internet Zone (or any zone used by an attacker) appears to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Instructions for disabling ActiveX in the Internet Zone can be found in the "Securing Your Web Browser" document and the Malicious Web Scripts FAQ.

Systems Affected (Learn More)

VendorStatusDate NotifiedDate Updated
Microsoft CorporationAffected07 Jul 200608 Aug 2006
If you are a vendor and your product is affected, let us know.

CVSS Metrics (Learn More)

Group Score Vector
Base N/A N/A
Temporal N/A N/A
Environmental N/A N/A

References

Credit

This vulnerability was publicly reported by HD Moore.

This document was written by Will Dormann.

Other Information

  • CVE IDs: CVE-2006-3357
  • Date Public: 02 Jul 2006
  • Date First Published: 07 Jul 2006
  • Date Last Updated: 08 Aug 2006
  • Severity Metric: 13.16
  • Document Revision: 8

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