CVE-2015-0069 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 allows remote attackers to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer ASLR Bypass Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The CVE-2015-0069 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11 that specifically targets the Address Space Layout Randomization protection mechanism. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to circumvent memory protection controls that are fundamental to modern operating system security architectures. The flaw exists in how Internet Explorer handles memory layout during application execution, specifically undermining the randomized memory addresses that are designed to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level of memory management, where ASLR is implemented to randomize the locations of system components and libraries in memory, making it significantly harder for attackers to predict memory addresses for exploitation. This bypass mechanism effectively neutralizes one of the primary defenses against buffer overflow attacks and other memory corruption exploits that rely on knowing specific memory addresses to execute malicious code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory layout decisions within Internet Explorer's rendering engine and memory management subsystems. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that exploit specific conditions in how the browser allocates and manages memory segments, particularly around heap and stack memory regions. When a user visits a compromised website, the malicious code can analyze memory layout patterns and predict the locations of system components, effectively nullifying the randomization that ASLR provides. This flaw operates through a combination of information leakage mechanisms and memory corruption techniques that allow attackers to gather sufficient information about memory mappings to bypass protection mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the dynamic loading and execution of components within the browser's memory space, exploiting inconsistencies in how memory addresses are assigned and managed during runtime execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0069 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to perform sophisticated exploitation techniques that would otherwise be impossible due to modern security protections. This vulnerability allows threat actors to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent access to affected systems. The bypass of ASLR protection mechanisms creates a foundation for more advanced attacks including remote code execution, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within network environments. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer become vulnerable to targeted attacks that can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects widely deployed browser versions and can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0069 primarily focus on patch management and browser security hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates that address this vulnerability through modifications to how Internet Explorer handles memory allocation and address space management, restoring proper ASLR implementation. Organizations should implement immediate patch deployment across all affected systems and consider browser hardening techniques such as disabling unnecessary browser features and implementing additional security controls like enhanced protection modes and restricted browsing environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses insecure coding practices related to memory management and protection mechanisms, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to address ASLR bypass vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider migrating away from deprecated browser versions and implementing more secure browsing environments with enhanced security controls to reduce attack surface and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.