Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (MS16-142)

ITS Advisory Number:

2016-195

Date(s) Issued:

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Subject:

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (MS16-142)

Overview:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Microsoft Internet Explorer the most severe of which could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted web page. An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

Systems Affected:

Internet Explorer 9
Internet Explorer 10
Internet Explorer 11

RISK

GOVERNMENT

Large and medium government entities:

High

Small government entities:

Medium

BUSINESS

Large and medium business entities:

High

Small business entities:

Medium

Home Users:

Low

Description:

Microsoft Internet Explorer is prone to multiple vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution. The vulnerabilities are as follows:

Four memory corruption vulnerabilities exist when Internet Explorer improperly accesses objects in memory (CVE-2016-7195, CVE-2016-7196, CVE-2016-7198, CVE-2016-7241)
An information disclosure vulnerabilities exist when Internet Explorer improperly handles page content (CVE-2016-7239)
Two information disclosure vulnerabilities exist when Internet Explorer improperly handles objects in memory (CVE-2016-7199, CVE-2016-7227)

The most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute remote code by luring a victim to visit a specially crafted malicious website. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of an affected system. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

Actions:

After appropriate testing, apply appropriate patches provided by Microsoft to vulnerable systems.
Remind users not to visit websites or follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
Inform and educate users regarding the threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments especially from untrusted sources.
Apply the principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.
Remind users not to visit websites or follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.

References:

Microsoft:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/MS16-142

CVE:

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7195

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7196

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7198

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7199

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7239

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7241

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7227