CVE-2015-0048 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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-2015-0028.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 suffered from a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering, creating opportunities for exploitation that differed from the related CVE-2015-0028 issue. The flaw stemmed from improper memory management within the browser's rendering engine, particularly when processing certain web elements that triggered buffer overflow conditions. Attackers could craft specially designed web pages containing malformed data structures that would cause the browser to allocate insufficient memory for processing, leading to memory corruption that could be leveraged for code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. These memory corruption issues typically occur when applications fail to properly validate input data before processing, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code. The vulnerability exploited the browser's object model handling, particularly affecting how Internet Explorer managed JavaScript objects and their associated memory allocations. When the browser encountered crafted web content, it would improperly handle memory references, leading to corruption of critical program structures that could be manipulated to execute arbitrary instructions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0048 was significant as it represented a remote code execution vulnerability that could be triggered simply by visiting a compromised website. This made it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios where users could be exploited without any interaction beyond normal web browsing. The vulnerability affected organizations running Internet Explorer 9 in enterprise environments, creating potential for widespread compromise across networks. Security researchers noted that the exploit required minimal user interaction, making it highly effective for automated attacks, and the memory corruption could lead to system crashes or complete system compromise depending on the execution context.
Organizations should have implemented immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security updates, disabling unnecessary browser features, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of keeping browser software current and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. Security professionals recommended using Internet Explorer's built-in security features like Protected Mode and Enhanced Protected Mode, along with browser isolation techniques. The incident underscored the need for regular vulnerability assessments and the importance of following the principle of least privilege when configuring browser security settings. Organizations should have also considered implementing browser sandboxing technologies and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability served as a reminder of the critical importance of timely patch management and the risks associated with legacy browser versions in enterprise environments.