Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2003-0838

Internet Explorer allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions to inject and execute...

7.5 HighPublic exploit

Internet Explorer allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions to inject and execute arbitrary programs by creating a popup window and inserting ActiveX object code with a "data" tag pointing to the malicious code, which Internet Explorer treats as HTML or Javascript, but later executes as an HTA application, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0532, and as exploited using the QHosts Trojan horse (aka Trojan.Qhosts, QHosts-1, VBS.QHOSTS, or aolfix.exe).

Exploit likelihood

37.6%Down 7.0 points since Feb 4, 2022
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.5

Internet Explorer allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions to inject and execute arbitrary programs by creating a popup window and inserting ActiveX object code with a "data" tag pointing to the malicious code, which Internet Explorer treats as HTML or Javascript, but later executes as an HTA application, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0532, and as exploited using the QHosts Trojan horse (aka Trojan.Qhosts, QHosts-1, VBS.QHOSTS, or aolfix.exe).

Record
CVE-2003-0838
CVSS 2.0
7.5 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

Internet Explorer allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions to inject and execute arbitrary programs by creating a popup window and inserting ActiveX object code with a "data" tag pointing to the malicious code, which Internet Explorer treats as HTML or Javascript, but later executes as an HTA application, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0532, and as exploited using the QHosts Trojan horse (aka Trojan.Qhosts, QHosts-1, VBS.QHOSTS, or aolfix.exe).

Record
CVE-2003-0838
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2003-0829 No score

Internet Explorer allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions to inject and execute arbitrary programs by creating a popup window and inserting ActiveX object code with a "data" tag pointing to the malicious code, which Internet Explorer treats as HTML or Javascript, but later executes as an HTA application, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0532, and as exploited using the QHosts Trojan horse (aka Trojan.Qhosts, QHosts-1, VBS.QHOSTS, or aolfix.exe).

Record
EUVD-2003-0829
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-rjqq-fhgc-2rj8 No score

Internet Explorer allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions to inject and execute...

Internet Explorer allows remote attackers to bypass zone restrictions to inject and execute arbitrary programs by creating a popup window and inserting ActiveX object code with a "data" tag pointing to the malicious code, which Internet Explorer treats as HTML or Javascript, but later executes as an HTA application, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0532, and as exploited using the QHosts Trojan horse (aka Trojan.Qhosts, QHosts-1, VBS.QHOSTS, or aolfix.exe).

Record
GHSA-rjqq-fhgc-2rj8
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
Exploit-DBMicrosoft Internet Explorer 5/6 - Browser Popup Window Object Type Validation2003-09-07

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2003-0838 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Microsoft Internet Explorer, published October 7, 2003. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 37.6%, the 98th percentile. No source names a fixed version.

References

Show 7 moreShow less
MoveEnter Open