Detect CVE-2010-0806 Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Exploitation in Elastic Security
Detects exploitation of CVE-2010-0806, a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted web page. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and has been actively exploited in the wild.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Initial Access Execution
Elastic Detection Query
sequence by host.id with maxspan=2m
[process where process.name : "iexplore.exe" and event.type == "start"]
[process where process.parent.name : "iexplore.exe" and
process.name : ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "wscript.exe", "cscript.exe", "mshta.exe", "regsvr32.exe", "rundll32.exe") and
event.type == "start"]EQL sequence detection for CVE-2010-0806 exploitation pattern: Internet Explorer process followed by suspicious child process spawning within a 2-minute window on the same host.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Automated browser testing frameworks using IE WebDriver
- Legacy enterprise applications with legitimate IE-to-script integration
- Helpdesk or support tools that launch cmd.exe for diagnostics via browser triggers
- Software installers that open IE as part of an installation workflow
Other platforms for CVE-2010-0806
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 Spawning CMD via Scripted Process Launch
Expected signal: ProcessCreate event with ParentImage=iexplore.exe and Image=cmd.exe visible in Sysmon Event ID 1 and Windows Security Event ID 4688
- Test 2Internet Explorer Spawning PowerShell for Encoded Command Execution
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: powershell.exe with encoded command and parent iexplore.exe; Network telemetry showing iexplore.exe with an active TCP session at time of child spawn
- Test 3Heap Spray Pattern Simulation via IE Memory Allocation Script
Expected signal: High memory allocation events in iexplore.exe process; potential script engine events logged if Script Block Logging is enabled; browser process memory consumption spike visible in performance telemetry
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for CVE-2010-0806 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.