Description
The showHelp() function in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5, and 6.0 supports certain types of pluggable protocols that allow remote attackers to bypass the cross-domain security model and execute arbitrary code, aka "Improper Cross Domain Security Validation with ShowHelp functionality."
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 - ShowHelp Arbitrary Command Execution EDB-22226 · remote · Feb 5, 2003 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
References
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:57 vdb-entry signature
- N-038 third-party-advisory government-resource
- 6780 vdb-entry
- VU#400577 third-party-advisory
- 20030206 showHelp("file:") disables security in IE - Sandblad advisory #11 mailing-list
- ie-showhelp-zone-bypass(11259) vdb-entry
- MS03-004 vendor-advisory