Internet Explorer Zero-day Vulnerability

A vulnerability in Internet Explorer (IE) and any applications that use the IE kernel are being exploited through malicious Microsoft Office documents which are distributed through spam email campaigns.

Threat ID:: CC-2298
Category:: Exploit
Threat Severity:: Medium
Threat Vector:
Published:: 25 April 2018 12:00 AM

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Summary

Affected platforms

The following platforms are known to be affected:

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer - All Versions
Applications that use the IE kernel

Threat details

When a user opens the document, a malicious webpage is opened in the background which delivers the malware from a Command and Control (C2) server. When successfully exploited, the attack uses a publicly known User Account Control (UAC) bypass, reflective DLL loading (loading a DLL from memory rather than from disk), fileless execution, and steganography. By bypassing UAC, the attack escalates privileges on the user’s device.

Remediation steps

Type	Step
	At the time of publication there is no available update to rectify this vulnerability. Employ a robust program of education and awareness training is delivered to users to ensure they don’t open attachments or follow links within unsolicited emails. All operating systems, antivirus and other security products are kept up to date. All day to day computer activities such as email and internet are performed using non-administrative accounts and that permissions are always assigned on the basis of least privilege. Your organisation adopts a holistic all round approach to Cyber Security as advocated by the 10 Steps To Cyber Security.

Type

Step

At the time of publication there is no available update to rectify this vulnerability.

Employ a robust program of education and awareness training is delivered to users to ensure they don’t open attachments or follow links within unsolicited emails.
All operating systems, antivirus and other security products are kept up to date.
All day to day computer activities such as email and internet are performed using non-administrative accounts and that permissions are always assigned on the basis of least privilege.
Your organisation adopts a holistic all round approach to Cyber Security as advocated by the 10 Steps To Cyber Security.

Last edited: 17 February 2020 12:45 pm