# CVE-2007-3896: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary programs via invalid percent sequences in URI handlers, requiring user interaction to trigger the vulnerability.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/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:** 11 Oct 2007
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wmhg-7fm8-r4vp

## What is CVE-2007-3896?

CVE-2007-3896 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 11 Oct 2007. 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 URL handling in Shell32.dll in the Windows shell in Microsoft Windows XP and Server 2003, with Internet Explorer 7 installed, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary programs via invalid "%" sequences in a mailto: or other URI handler, as demonstrated using mIRC, Outlook, Firefox, Adobe Reader, Skype, and other applications. NOTE: this issue might be related to other issues involving URL handlers in Windows systems, such as CVE-2007-3845. There also might be separate but closely related issues in the applications that are invoked by the handlers.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2007-3896?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Internet Explorer.

## How do I fix CVE-2007-3896?

No fix has been published for CVE-2007-3896 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2007-3896 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2007-3896 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows - URI Handler Command Execution (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-2007-3896 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2007-3896 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published on 11 Oct 2007. 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-2007-3896 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-2007-3896/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-3896/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2007-3896
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-3896
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2007-3896

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-3896/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.