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Microsoft Internet Explorer "window()" Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
Secunia Advisory: SA15546
Release Date: 2005-05-31
Last Update: 2005-12-13
Popularity: 135,213 views

Critical:
Extremely critical
Impact: System access
Where: From remote
Solution Status: Vendor Patch

Software:Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x

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CVE reference:CVE-2005-1790


Description:
Benjamin Tobias Franz has discovered a vulnerability in Internet Explorer, which can be exploited by malicious people to compromise a user's system.

The vulnerability is caused due to certain objects not being initialized correctly when the "window()" function is used in conjunction with the "<body onload>" event. This can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable browser via some specially crafted JavaScript code called directly when a site has been loaded.

Example:
<body onload="window();">

Successful exploitation requires that the user is e.g. tricked into visiting a malicious website.

The vulnerability has been confirmed on a fully patched system with Internet Explorer 6.0 and Microsoft Windows XP SP2, and Internet Explorer 6.0 and Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4.

Note: A PoC exploit has been released for this vulnerability.

Solution:
Apply patches.

For details:
SA15368

Provided and/or discovered by:
Originally reported by:
Benjamin Tobias Franz

Code Execution PoC by:
S. Pearson, Computer Terrorism (UK)

Changelog:
2005-06-01: Added Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 as affected software.
2005-06-02: Added CVE reference.
2005-11-21: PoC exploit released. Escalated criticality.
2005-11-22: Added links to original advisories and US-CERT vulnerability note.
2005-12-13: Vendor releases patches. Updated solution.

Original Advisory:
S. Pearson:
http://www.computerterrorism.com/research/ie/ct21-11-2005

Microsoft (KB911302):
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/911302.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911302

MS05-054 (KB905915):
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS05-054.mspx

Other References:
US-CERT VU#887861:
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/887861

SA15368:
http://secunia.com/advisories/15368/


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