CVE-2015-0037 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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-2015-0018, CVE-2015-0040, and CVE-2015-0066.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 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 IE processes certain web elements. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages that trigger memory corruption when the browser attempts to render them, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the victim's system. The vulnerability operates at a low-level memory management function that is fundamental to browser operation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without user interaction once the malicious page is loaded.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption patterns that align with common exploit techniques used in browser-based attacks. When Internet Explorer 11 encounters malformed or specially crafted HTML elements, JavaScript code, or embedded objects, the browser's memory management system fails to properly validate input data, resulting in memory corruption. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an attacker can access memory locations beyond the intended boundaries. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering process, where IE's JavaScript engine and rendering components interact in ways that allow attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to include significant denial of service scenarios that can crash the browser or even the entire system. Attackers can leverage this flaw to deploy various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, malicious payload delivery, and persistent exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's persistence across different versions of IE11 makes it particularly dangerous for organizations with legacy systems still running older browser versions. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution), T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter), and T1071 (Application Layer Protocol) as attackers can use web-based delivery mechanisms to execute their payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require a multi-layered approach combining immediate patching with defensive measures. Microsoft released security updates that addressed the memory corruption issues through improved input validation and memory management routines. Organizations should implement browser hardening techniques including restricted browsing environments, sandboxing mechanisms, and enhanced security policies. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious web content before it reaches vulnerable systems. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and keeping browsers updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks that exploit fundamental memory management flaws.