Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-051 - Critical
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (3155533)
Published: May 10, 2016
Version: 1.0
Executive Summary
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage using Internet Explorer. An attacker who successfully exploited the 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.
This security update is rated Critical for Internet Explorer 9 (IE 9), and Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11) on affected Windows clients, and Moderate for Internet Explorer 9 (IE 9), Internet Explorer 10 (IE 10), and Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11) on affected Windows servers. For more information, see the Affected Software section.
The update addresses the vulnerabilities by modifying how the JScript and VBScript scripting engines handle objects in memory. For more information about the vulnerabilities, see the Vulnerability Information section.
For more information about this update, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3155533.
Affected Software
The following software versions or editions are affected. Versions or editions that are not listed are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
**Operating System** | **Component** | **Maximum Security Impact** | **Aggregate Severity Rating** | **Updates Replaced**\* |
**Internet Explorer 9** | ||||
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 | [Internet Explorer 9](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=e47e3ef0-1c48-4d4e-8936-be459e597cca) (3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | [Internet Explorer 9](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=00a3db9b-4389-4425-b375-2a918a500f6a) (3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | [Internet Explorer 9](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=cbe58006-cafd-4ac9-8ef5-1ae3875968ce) (3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Moderate | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | [Internet Explorer 9](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=e4a9ede1-d9d7-4601-b634-bfe106cf4b8a) (3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Moderate | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
**Internet Explorer 10** | ||||
Windows Server 2012 | [Internet Explorer 10](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=3cb4ef4b-91ba-4a24-bba2-3bc3d10b714a)[1] (3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Moderate | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
**Internet Explorer 11** | ||||
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | [Internet Explorer 11 ](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=6d7f5881-b9a7-4469-9cab-5182296765de)(3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | [Internet Explorer 11 ](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=4ecf40fd-1757-4c73-a431-c7694c87503e)(3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | [Internet Explorer 11](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=1ffce82b-a299-451f-bcee-f6b5b9cb02dd)[1] (3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Moderate | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems | [Internet Explorer 11 ](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=f6835223-3265-4a3a-875a-0aa86aa60825)(3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems | [Internet Explorer 11 ](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=80b557ad-6ba1-434a-a3aa-ee8b29e914ee)(3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows Server 2012 R2 | [Internet Explorer 11 ](https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?familyid=76ff1a98-dcc7-4e8c-841a-ca3b230aa8be)(3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Moderate | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
Windows RT 8.1 | Internet Explorer 11[1] [2] (3154070) | Remote Code Execution | Critical | 3148198 in [MS16-037](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=746891) |
[Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3156387)[3] (3156387) | Internet Explorer 11 | Remote Code Execution | Critical | [3147461](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3147461) |
[Windows 10 for x64-based Systems](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3156387)[3] (3156387) | Internet Explorer 11 | Remote Code Execution | Critical | [3147461](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3147461) |
[Windows 10 Version 1511 for 32-bit Systems](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3156421)[3] (3156421) |
Internet Explorer 11 | Remote Code Execution | Critical | [3147458](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3147458) |
[Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3156421)[3] (3156421) |
Internet Explorer 11 | Remote Code Execution | Critical | [3147458](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3147458) |
[2]This update is available via Windows Update.
[3]Windows 10 updates are cumulative. The monthly security release includes all security fixes for vulnerabilities that affect Windows 10, in addition to non-security updates. The updates are available via the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Note Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 5 is affected. Customers running this operating system are encouraged to apply the update, which is available via Windows Update.
*The Updates Replaced column shows only the latest update in any chain of superseded updates. For a comprehensive list of updates replaced, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog, search for the update KB number, and then view update details (updates replaced information is provided on the Package Details tab).
Update FAQ
Does this update contain any additional security-related changes to functionality?
In addition to the changes that are listed for the vulnerabilities described in this bulletin, this update includes defense-in-depth updates to help improve security-related features.
For my particular system and Internet Explorer configuration, which update addresses the vulnerabilities discussed in CVE-2016-0187 and CVE-2016-0189?
CVE-2016-0187 and CVE-2016-0189 are vulnerabilities in the JScript and VBScript engines. Although the attack vector is through Internet Explorer, the vulnerabilities are addressed by the updates released in this bulletin (MS16-051) for systems running Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, and Internet Explorer 11. For Internet Explorer 7 and earlier, the vulnerabilities are addressed by the updates described in MS16-053.
Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers
The following severity ratings assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin's release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the May bulletin summary.
Where specified in the Severity Ratings and Impact table, Critical, Important, and Moderate values indicate severity ratings. For more information, see Security Bulletin Severity Rating System. Refer to the following key for the abbreviations used in the table to indicate maximum impact:
Abbreviation | Maximum Impact |
RCE | Remote Code Execution |
EoP | Elevation of Privilege |
ID | Information Disclosure |
SFB | Security Feature Bypass |
**Vulnerability Severity Ratings and Impact** | |||||
**CVE number** | **Vulnerability title** | **Internet Explorer 9** | **Internet Explorer 10** | **Internet Explorer 11** | **Internet Explorer 11** **on Windows 10** |
[CVE-2016-0187](http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2016-0187) | Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** |
[CVE-2016-0188](http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2016-0188) | Internet Explorer Security Feature Bypass | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Clients: **Important / SFB** (Windows 10 1511 is not affected) Windows Servers: **Low / SFB** |
[CVE-2016-0189](http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2016-0189) | Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate / RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate / RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate / RCE** |
[CVE-2016-0192](http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2016-0192) | Microsoft Browser Memory Corruption Vulnerability | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** | Windows Clients: **Critical / RCE** Windows Servers **Moderate/ RCE** |
[CVE-2016-0194](http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2016-0194) | Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability | Not applicable | Windows Clients: **Important / ID **Windows Servers: **Low/ ID** | Windows Clients: **Important / ID **Windows Servers: **Low/ ID** | Windows Clients: **Important / ID **Windows Servers: **Low / ID** |
Vulnerability Information
Multiple Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerabilities
Multiple remote code execution vulnerabilities exist in the way that the JScript and VBScript engines render when handling objects in memory in Internet Explorer. The vulnerabilities could corrupt memory in such a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities 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.
In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerabilities through Internet Explorer and then convince a user to view the website. An attacker could also embed an ActiveX control marked "safe for initialization" in an application or Microsoft Office document that hosts the IE rendering engine. The attacker could also take advantage of compromised websites, and websites that accept or host user-provided content or advertisements. These websites could contain specially crafted content that could exploit the vulnerabilities. The update addresses the vulnerabilities by modifying how the JScript and VBScript scripting engines handle objects in memory.
The following table contains links to the standard entry for each vulnerability in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list:
Vulnerability title | CVE number | Publicly disclosed | Exploited |
Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability | CVE-2016-0187 | No | No |
Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability | CVE-2016-0189 | No | Yes |
Vulnerability title | CVE number | Publicly disclosed | Exploited |
Internet Explorer Security Feature Bypass | CVE-2016-0188 | Yes | No |
Vulnerability title | CVE number | Publicly disclosed | Exploited |
Microsoft Browser Memory Corruption Vulnerability | CVE-2016-0192 | No | No |
Vulnerability title | CVE number | Publicly disclosed | Exploited |
Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability | CVE-2016-0194 | No | No |