Microsoft Internet Explorer does not properly handle cached HTTPS contents

Overview

Microsoft Internet Explorer fails to properly validate cached HTTPS contents, allowing an attacker to obtain information or spoof information on a secure web site.

Description

The HTTPS protocol is used to provide authentication, encryption, integrity, and non-repudiation services to web applications. Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) does not properly validate cached HTTPS content. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a web site with the same host name as the legitimate HTTPS protected web site. When the attacker’s web site is viewed, the contents are cached. If the attacker redirects the victim’s browser to the legitimate web site, the attacker’s cached contents are then displayed within the context of that web site. The cached content could include script code, images, or other locally cached items.

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Impact

An attacker may be able to spoof information on a secure web site. Using script, an attacker may be able to retrieve cookies or other information from a secure web session.

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Solution

Apply a patch

Apply the patch referenced in MS04-038.

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Do not save encrypted pages to disk

To prevent this vulnerability from being exploited, change the IE settings to not save encrypted contents to disk. To make this change, follow these steps (provided by MS04-038):

1. In Internet Explorer, click Internet Options on theTools menu.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. Under Settings, scroll toSecurity.
4. UnderSettings, in theSecuritysection, clickDo not save encrypted pages to disk. 5. ClickOK two times to return to Internet Explorer.

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Vendor Information

795720

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Updated: October 15, 2004

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Please see <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms04-038.mspx&gt;

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us [email](<mailto:[email protected]?Subject=VU%23795720 Feedback>).

CVSS Metrics

Group	Score	Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

• <http://www.acrossecurity.com/aspr/ASPR-2004-10-13-1-PUB.txt&gt;
• <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-038.mspx&gt;
• <http://securitytracker.com/alerts/2004/Oct/1011642.html&gt;
• <http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/17654&gt;

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Microsoft for reporting this vulnerability. Microsoft credits Mitja Kolsek from ACROS Security for reporting the vulnerability.

This document was written by Will Dormann.

Other Information

CVE IDs:	CVE-2004-0845
Severity Metric:	9.72 Date Public: