CVE-2015-0070 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to read content from a different (1) domain or (2) zone via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Cross-domain Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0070 represents a critical cross-domain information disclosure flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11. This security weakness stems from improper enforcement of the browser's security model, which should prevent websites from accessing content across different security zones or domains. The vulnerability specifically affects the implementation of cross-origin resource sharing and domain isolation mechanisms that are fundamental to web browser security architecture. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious web pages that leverage the browser's failure to properly enforce security boundaries between different domains or zones, potentially enabling unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of Internet Explorer's security zone handling mechanisms and cross-domain policy enforcement. When users navigate to malicious websites, the browser fails to properly validate or restrict access to resources that should be isolated by domain boundaries or security zones. This allows attackers to construct web content that can access and potentially read data from different domains or security zones that should normally be protected by the browser's security model. The flaw operates at the core of the browser's security architecture, specifically targeting the sandboxing and isolation mechanisms that separate different web contexts. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category for "Information Exposure" and represents a failure in proper access control enforcement within the browser's security framework.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0070 is significant as it enables attackers to perform cross-domain information disclosure attacks that can potentially access sensitive data from different websites or security zones. This could allow adversaries to retrieve confidential information from banking sites, social media platforms, or corporate web applications that users might have open in different browser tabs or windows. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer, including older versions that may still be in use within enterprise environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gather user credentials, personal information, or business data without user interaction, as the exploitation occurs through standard web browsing activities. The attack vector requires only that users visit a malicious website, making it a highly practical and dangerous vulnerability in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0070 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement immediate patches from Microsoft that address the specific cross-domain access control flaw in Internet Explorer. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary features, implementing strict content security policies, and using security extensions can reduce the attack surface. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls and deep packet inspection can help detect and block exploitation attempts. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browsers updated. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through browser exploitation, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that include browser security enhancements, network monitoring, and user awareness training to prevent successful exploitation of such cross-domain information disclosure vulnerabilities.