Detect Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability (CVE-2010-0249) in IBM QRadar
CVE-2010-0249 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Microsoft Internet Explorer that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted web page. This vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild (Operation Aurora) and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Exploitation typically involves a malicious HTML/JavaScript page that triggers memory corruption through manipulated DOM objects, enabling arbitrary code execution in the context of the logged-on user.
MITRE ATT&CK
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT DATEFORMAT(devicetime, 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') as EventTime, sourceip, username, "Process Name", "Parent Process Name", "Command", logsourcename(logsourceid) as LogSource
FROM events
WHERE LOWER("Parent Process Name") LIKE '%iexplore.exe'
AND LOWER("Process Name") IN ('cmd.exe', 'powershell.exe', 'wscript.exe', 'cscript.exe', 'mshta.exe', 'regsvr32.exe', 'rundll32.exe')
AND LOGSOURCE_TYPE(logsourceid) IN (12, 13)
LAST 24 HOURS
ORDER BY devicetime DESCQRadar AQL query identifying Internet Explorer spawning suspicious child processes on Windows endpoints, indicative of CVE-2010-0249 use-after-free exploitation.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Browser automation tools or RPA platforms controlling Internet Explorer
- Help desk remote support tools that launch processes through the browser context
- Legacy intranet applications that invoke shell commands via ActiveX controls
- Authorized penetration testing activities targeting IE
Other platforms for CVE-2010-0249
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate IE Use-After-Free Child Process Spawn
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 showing cmd.exe with ParentImage pointing to iexplore.exe; file creation event for cve_2010_0249_test.txt in %TEMP%
- Test 2IE Spawning PowerShell Downloader (Post-Exploit Simulation)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 with ParentImage iexplore.exe and Image powershell.exe; command line containing -NonInteractive visible in process telemetry
- Test 3Anomalous IE Network Beacon on Non-Standard Port
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 3 network connection event with InitiatingProcessFileName iexplore.exe and DestinationPort 4444; connection attempt logged even on failure
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