CVE-2019-1038: Remote Code Execution in Microsoft Internet Explorer 10

Severity: highType: vulnerabilityCVE-2019-1038

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that Microsoft browsers access objects in memory. The vulnerability could corrupt memory in a way that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, the attacker could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. An attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability through Microsoft browsers, and then convince a user to view the website. The attacker could also take advantage of compromised websites, or websites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements, by adding specially crafted content that could exploit the vulnerability. In all cases, however, an attacker would have no way to force users to view the attacker-controlled content. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to take action, typically via an enticement in email or instant message, or by getting them to open an email attachment. The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how Microsoft browsers handle objects in memory.

AI Analysis

Technical Summary

CVE-2019-1038 is a high-severity remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer 10. The flaw arises from improper handling of objects in memory by the browser, which can lead to memory corruption. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code within the security context of the current user. If the user has administrative privileges, the attacker could gain full control over the affected system, including installing software, modifying or deleting data, and creating new user accounts with elevated rights. Exploitation typically requires the attacker to lure the user into visiting a specially crafted malicious website or to interact with compromised or user-content hosting websites containing malicious code. The attack vector relies on user interaction, such as clicking a link or opening an email attachment, as there is no capability to force users to visit malicious content automatically. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability by releasing a security update that changes how Internet Explorer 10 manages memory objects to prevent corruption and code execution. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a high severity due to the potential for complete system compromise, although exploitation complexity is somewhat elevated due to the need for user interaction and attack complexity. No known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2019-1038 can be significant, especially in environments where Internet Explorer 10 remains in use, such as legacy systems or specialized industrial and governmental applications. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized system control, data breaches, disruption of business operations, and potential lateral movement within networks. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information and critical infrastructure could be compromised. Given that many European organizations operate under strict data protection regulations like GDPR, a breach resulting from this vulnerability could also lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The requirement for user interaction somewhat limits mass exploitation but targeted phishing campaigns could be effective, particularly against high-value targets in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Mitigation Recommendations

Specific mitigation steps include: 1) Immediate application of the official Microsoft security update that patches this vulnerability to ensure the memory handling flaw is corrected. 2) Where possible, deprecate and disable Internet Explorer 10 in favor of modern, supported browsers with improved security architectures. 3) Implement network-level protections such as web filtering to block access to known malicious sites and sandboxing or isolating legacy systems that require IE10. 4) Enhance user awareness training focused on phishing and social engineering tactics to reduce the likelihood of users visiting malicious sites or opening harmful attachments. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Regularly audit and restrict user privileges to minimize the impact of potential exploitation, ensuring users operate with least privilege necessary. 7) Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from any compromise.