CVE-2015-0022 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-0017, CVE-2015-0020, CVE-2015-0026, CVE-2015-0030, CVE-2015-0031, CVE-2015-0036, and CVE-2015-0041.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11, classified under CWE-125 as improper initialization of memory. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and memory management within the browser's rendering engine, specifically when processing malformed web content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages that trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions in memory structures used by the browser's JavaScript engine and HTML parser. The flaw enables remote code execution when a user visits a compromised website, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content. This vulnerability is distinct from several other related issues in the same advisory cycle, indicating a unique exploitation vector that targets the core memory management subsystem rather than other browser components. The attack typically involves crafting specific HTML elements or JavaScript code that when rendered causes the browser to allocate or deallocate memory in unexpected ways, leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The memory corruption occurs at the kernel level within the browser's memory management functions, which are responsible for handling dynamic memory allocation for web page elements and script execution contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0022 extends beyond simple exploitation capabilities to encompass significant security implications for organizations relying on legacy internet explorer versions. The vulnerability can be leveraged through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns that direct users to malicious content. Security researchers have documented exploitation techniques that map directly to the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) tactics, demonstrating how attackers can chain this vulnerability with other techniques to establish persistent access. Organizations running unsupported versions of internet explorer face heightened risk since these browsers lack security updates and patches that would address the underlying memory corruption issues. The vulnerability affects both desktop and mobile versions of internet explorer, though the attack surface varies based on the specific implementation details of each version. Memory corruption vulnerabilities of this nature typically require complex exploitation techniques involving information leakage, return-oriented programming, or other advanced methods to achieve reliable code execution. The exploitation process often involves multiple stages where attackers must first gain code execution in the browser context, then escalate privileges or establish persistence mechanisms within the target system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0022 must address both immediate protection and long-term security posture improvements. Organizations should implement immediate browser isolation techniques including disabling internet explorer or using alternative browsers for web browsing activities. Microsoft recommends applying the relevant security patches that address the memory corruption issues in the affected versions, though many organizations may be unable to update due to legacy application dependencies. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious content before it reaches users. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious browser behavior, memory access patterns, and abnormal process execution that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through web browsing, making user education and awareness programs critical components of defense strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing technologies that isolate browser processes from the underlying operating system, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, security controls should include regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems running unpatched versions of internet explorer and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing defensive measures such as process injection detection, anomalous memory access patterns monitoring, and network traffic analysis to detect exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Regular security audits should verify that internet explorer is properly configured with security features enabled and that legacy applications requiring the browser are properly isolated from general network access to minimize attack surface exposure.