CVE-2015-0027 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 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-2015-0035, CVE-2015-0039, CVE-2015-0052, and CVE-2015-0068.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11 that enables remote code execution through malicious web content. The issue stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer processes certain web elements and objects in memory. The vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows and use-after-free conditions that occur when the browser attempts to manage memory for dynamically allocated objects during web page rendering. Attackers can craft malicious websites that trigger these memory corruption scenarios when users visit the compromised pages, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves exploitation of memory management functions within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components. When processing specially crafted web content, the browser fails to properly validate memory boundaries, leading to corruption of adjacent memory regions. This memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical program pointers, function return addresses, or other control structures, enabling attackers to redirect execution flow and inject malicious code. The flaw specifically manifests in scenarios involving complex web objects, dynamic content manipulation, and memory allocation patterns that are common in modern web applications but not properly sanitized by the browser's memory management subsystem.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, particularly in legacy systems that have not been migrated to modern browsers. The remote exploitation nature means that attackers can compromise systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites, making it highly effective for phishing campaigns and drive-by download attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potential lateral movement within networks, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations with outdated Internet Explorer installations face elevated risk of advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability was widely targeted by threat actors seeking to leverage its remote execution capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, which address the underlying memory management flaws in the browser's rendering engine. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing enhanced security zones, and configuring content filtering mechanisms to prevent access to untrusted websites. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining updated browser software. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read), highlighting the need for comprehensive security measures that address both application-level vulnerabilities and user behavior. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation technologies and migration strategies to reduce reliance on vulnerable legacy browser versions.