Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories

CVE-2004-0380: Microsoft Outlook Express: Remote code execution

CVE-2004-0380 has a CVSS v2 base score of 10.0 (the maximum on that scale) and affects Microsoft Outlook Express. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

The MHTML protocol handler in Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 SP2 through Outlook Express 6 SP1 allows remote attackers to bypass domain restrictions and execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated on Internet Explorer using script in a compiled help (CHM) file that references the InfoTech Storage (ITS) protocol handlers such as (1) ms-its, (2) ms-itss, (3) its, or (4) mk:@MSITStore, aka the "MHTML URL Processing Vulnerability."

Severity breakdown

CVSS v2.0 10.0: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

  • Access vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network.
  • Access complexity: Low. No special conditions are required.
  • Authentication: None. No authentication is needed.
  • Confidentiality impact: Complete. Total information disclosure.
  • Integrity impact: Complete. Total loss of integrity.
  • Availability impact: Complete. Total shutdown of the component.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Outlook Express: 5.5; 6.0

References