Microsoft Internet Explorer Multiple Vulnerabilities

Brandon · December 13, 2005

Five vulnerabilities have been reported in Microsoft Internet Explorer, which can be exploited by malicious people to view potentially sensitive information, to trick users into downloading and executing arbitrary programs, and to compromise a user's system.

1) A design error in the processing of keyboard shortcuts for certain security dialogs can e.g. be exploited to delay the "File Download" dialog box and trick users into executing a malicious ".bat" file after pressing the "r" key.

2) A design error in the processing of mouse clicks in new browser windows and the predictability of the position of the "File Download" dialog box can be exploited to trick the user into clicking on the "Run" button of the dialog box. This is exploited by first causing a "File Download" dialog box to be displayed underneath a new browser window, and then tricking the user into double-clicking within a specific area in the new window. This will result in an unintended click of the "Run" button in the hidden "File Download" dialog box.

3) An error exists in Internet Explorer when used with a HTTPS proxy server that requires clients to use Basic Authentication. This may cause web addresses that are sent from Internet Explorer to be disclosed to a third-party even when HTTPS connection is used.

4) An error exists when certain COM objects that are not intended to be used with Internet Explorer are instantiated in Internet Explorer. This can be exploited to execute arbitrary code via a malicious webpage that instantiates a vulnerable COM object.

This is related to:

SA16480

5) An error exists in the initialisation of certain objects when the "window()" function is used in conjunction with the "<body onload>" event. This can be exploited to execute arbitrary code via a malicious webpage.

For more information:

SA15546

The vulnerabilities #1, #2, and #5 have been confirmed on a fully patched system with Internet Explorer 6.0 and Microsoft Windows XP SP2. Other versions may also be affected.

Solution:

Apply patches.

Internet Explorer 5.01 SP 4 on Microsoft Windows 2000 (requires SP 4):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloa...B74A-D6...B1-276686B4A428

Internet Explorer 6 SP 1 on Microsoft Windows 2000 (requires SP 4) or on Microsoft Windows XP (requires SP 1):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloa...3CD2-D9...0E-BD7E19FCB994

Internet Explorer 6 for Microsoft Windows XP (requires SP 2):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloa...BA57-D4...54-2869E371C9D1

Internet Explorer 6 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (with or without SP 1):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloa...FB20-C7...64-6DBC9A542CC6

Internet Explorer 6 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (Itanium) (with or without SP 1):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloa...90B9-E5...C3-FCB3289D7E9C