Description There is a bug in the Microsoft.XMLHTTP component shipped with Internet Explorer 6 which allows reading and sending local files. This component doesn't handle http redirects to local files properly In order for this exploit to work the file name must be known. The exploit doesn't distinguish between extensions, binary or textual content witch makes it a high risk exploit in my book Systems affected: IE 6/ Win98 IE 6 /Windows XP Probably other versions of windows ass well as it doesn't seem to be os related- have not tested. On IE 5.5 the exploit doesn't work, it seems to have a bug in its implementation of the active X object used as it doesn't seem to follow redirects (witch I guess they can call a feature now:p) Vendor status: I send microsoft a cc of my bugtraq post :) A demonstration is available at http://www.xs4all.nl/~jkuperus/bug.htm Workaround: Disable active scripting Then again if you are using Internet explorer you aren't really concerned with security anyway now are you :p I really think it's scary that someone like me can find something like this with as little effort as it took
