Zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer

Use-after-free error
CVE-2013-1347

The vulnerability has been exploited in watering hole attack against Department of Labor (DoL). Used in Pawn Storm campaign.

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2013050301 - Remote code execution in Microsoft Internet Explorer

Vulnerable component: Microsoft Internet Explorer

CVE-ID: CVE-2013-1347

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 use-after-free error in the CGenericElement object. A remote attacker can create specially crafted Web page, 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.

Known APT campaigns:

Department of Labor breach

The attack took place in April, 2013.

Sun Shop Campaign

The campaign was first detected on May 20, 2013.

Public Exploits:

- Microsoft Internet Explorer - CGenericElement Object Use-After-Free (Metasploit) [Exploit-DB]

External links:

https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2013/05/ie-zero-day-is-used-in-dol-watering-hole-attack...
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/2847140.aspx
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms13-may.aspx
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms13-038
https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2013/05/09/microsoft-rushes-out-cve-2013-1347-fix-it-for-the-latest...
https://securityintelligence.com/cve-2013-1347-microsoft-internet-explorer-cgenericelement-object-us...
https://www.symantec.com/security_response/attacksignatures/detail.jsp?asid=26721
http://stopmalvertising.com/malware-reports/cve-2013-1347-new-internet-explorer-8-0-day-used-in-wate...
https://vulners.com/metasploit/MSF:EXPLOIT/WINDOWS/BROWSER/IE_CGENERICELEMENT_UAF
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/05/zero-day-exploit-published-for-ie8/
https://blogs.forcepoint.com/security-labs/internet-explorer-zero-day-vulnerability-cve-2013-1347-up...
https://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/vulnerabilities/VET-000479.aspx
https://blog.qualys.com/laws-of-vulnerabilities/2013/05/04/new-0-day-in-microsoft-internet-explorer-...
https://www.threatconnect.com/blog/threatconnect-gets-root-targeted-exploitation-campaigns/

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.