Microsoft Internet Explorer mshtml.dll CDisplayPointer Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2013-3897)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTMicrosoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via crafted JavaScript code leveraging the onpropertychange event handler
Apply the official MS13-080 security update immediately, transition to modern browsers, or implement temporary workarounds such as unregistering VGX.dll
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
The primary remediation is to apply the MS13-080 security update. For legacy systems managed via command-line tools, the update can be verified and installed using the following PowerShell commands:
# Check if the MS13-080 security update (e.g., KB2879017) is installed
Get-HotFix -Id KB2879017
# Force install the specific KB update if missing
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force
Get-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB2879017 -Install -AcceptAll -AutoReboot2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If patching cannot be immediately performed, mitigate the attack vector by unregistering vgx.dll (which handles Vector Markup Language) to reduce the browser's attack surface.
# Unregister VGX.dll to mitigate exploitation vectors (Run as Administrator)
regsvr32.exe /u '%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll'
regsvr32.exe /u '%CommonProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll'3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Administrators can audit the version of mshtml.dll across endpoints to identify vulnerable systems that lack the necessary security updates.
# Audit script to check the version of mshtml.dll
$dllPath = Join-Path $env:SystemRoot 'System32\mshtml.dll'
if (Test-Path $dllPath) {
$versionInfo = (Get-Item $dllPath).VersionInfo
[PSCustomObject]@{
'Path' = $dllPath
'FileVersion' = $versionInfo.FileVersion
'ProductVer' = $versionInfo.ProductVersion
} | Format-List
} else {
Write-Warning 'mshtml.dll was not found in the standard system directory.'
}Block Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2013-3897) is a critical Use-After-Free (UAF) flaw residing within the CDisplayPointer class in mshtml.dll, the rendering engine for Microsoft Internet Explorer. The root cause is the improper management of object lifecycles in memory during dynamic DOM manipulation, where a pointer to a deleted CDisplayPointer object remains dangling and is subsequently reused.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker exploits this vulnerability by hosting a specially crafted webpage containing malicious JavaScript that triggers the onpropertychange event handler. During the execution of this event handler, the DOM structure is modified in a way that forces the destruction of the CDisplayPointer object. The attacker then uses heap spraying techniques to fill the freed memory space with controlled data, allowing them to hijack the instruction pointer when the browser attempts to reuse the dangling pointer, leading to arbitrary code execution.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
This vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild in targeted attacks during late 2013. Successful exploitation grants the attacker the same user rights as the current user. If the user is logged in with administrative privileges, the attacker can compromise the entire operating system, install malicious programs, exfiltrate sensitive corporate data, and establish a persistent foothold within the enterprise network.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Use-after-free vulnerability in the CDisplayPointer class in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via crafted JavaScript code that uses the onpropertychange event handler, as exploited in the wild in September and October 2013, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2013-3897)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2013-3897 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2013-3897 is rated CVSS 8.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 77.3%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2013-3897?
Primary impacted vendors include microsoft across internet_explorer. Scope summary: Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 running on supported Windows operating systems at the time
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2013-3897 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply the official MS13-080 security update immediately, transition to modern browsers, or implement temporary workarounds such as unregistering VGX.dll Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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