Software Engineering Institute

HTML Application (HTA)

HTML Applications (HTAs) are HTML documents that are executed as trusted applications. HTAs can run script, Java, or ActiveX controls.

The Problem

An error in the way that IE handles HTAs may allow a remote attacker to bypass IE's Security checks and execute an HTA application without a user's consent.

Considerations

More information is available in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-013.

If a remote attacker can persuade a user to access a specially crafted HTML page, that attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised user.

Apply an Update
This issue is addressed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-013.

Refer to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-013 for workarounds for this vulnerability.