CVE-2015-0054 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 through 11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0054 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 through 11. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges on affected systems, potentially allowing full system compromise. The issue stems from how Internet Explorer handles certain objects in memory, creating a condition where malicious web content can exploit the browser's security model to escalate privileges beyond normal user boundaries. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they leverage the trust users place in web browsers and can be exploited through simple web page visits without requiring user interaction beyond navigating to a malicious site.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper handling of object references and memory management within Internet Explorer's rendering engine. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that exploit a flaw in how the browser processes certain JavaScript objects or COM components, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-119 Improper Access to Memory and CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow categories, representing a classic privilege escalation vector through memory corruption. The vulnerability affects the browser's security model by bypassing the normal user privilege boundaries that should prevent web content from executing system-level operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0054 is severe and multifaceted across enterprise environments. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions face significant risk of unauthorized system access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing emails, compromised websites, or drive-by downloads, making it particularly challenging to defend against. Once successfully exploited, attackers can establish persistent access, install malware, modify system configurations, or escalate privileges to SYSTEM level access, depending on the target system's configuration. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, demonstrating how the flaw can be leveraged for comprehensive system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0054 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches released in response to this vulnerability. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and using enhanced security configurations like Internet Explorer's Enhanced Protected Mode. Network-level defenses should include web application firewalls and proxy servers that can filter malicious content before it reaches user systems. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the dangers of visiting untrusted websites remains crucial. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish baseline security configurations that minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrates how browser-based exploits can bypass traditional network security controls, making comprehensive defense-in-depth strategies essential for protecting against such threats.