# CVE-2004-0549: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code in the Local Security context via the WebBrowser ActiveX control or MSHTML engine in Internet Explorer.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Jun 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2hx7-84c2-vv8q

## What is CVE-2004-0549?

CVE-2004-0549 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 15 Jun 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The WebBrowser ActiveX control, or the Internet Explorer HTML rendering engine (MSHTML), as used in Internet Explorer 6, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code in the Local Security context by using the showModalDialog method and modifying the location to execute code such as Javascript, as demonstrated using (1) delayed HTTP redirect operations, and an HTTP response with a Location: header containing a "URL:" prepended to a "ms-its" protocol URI, or (2) modifying the location attribute of the window, as exploited by the Download.ject (aka Scob aka Toofer) using the ADODB.Stream object.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-0549?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Internet Explorer.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-0549?

No fix has been published for CVE-2004-0549 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2004-0549 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0549 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Internet Explorer - Remote Wscript.Shell (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer

- [CVE-2014-1776](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1776/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-27085](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27085/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0222](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0222/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Remote Code Execution (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0210](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0210/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-0149](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-0149/): Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-0549 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-0549 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 15 Jun 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0549 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Internet Explorer. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0549/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0549/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-0549
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-0549
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-0549

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0549/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.