CVE-2015-0099 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 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."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through specially crafted web content. This vulnerability represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow scenario where maliciously constructed web pages can trigger memory corruption in the browser's rendering engine. The flaw exists within the way Internet Explorer processes certain web elements, particularly those involving object manipulation and memory allocation patterns that are commonly found in dynamic web content. The vulnerability has been categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited across the browser's memory management subsystem. Attackers can leverage this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in Internet Explorer 10, triggers the corrupted memory access pattern leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The attack vector requires user interaction through web browsing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently visit untrusted websites. This vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain execution privileges. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of web content, specifically affecting the browser's handling of JavaScript objects and memory allocation routines. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential system compromise and denial of service scenarios where the browser process may crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability affects Windows operating systems running Internet Explorer 10 and is particularly concerning due to the browser's widespread deployment in enterprise environments.
The technical exploitation of this memory corruption vulnerability relies on precise control over memory layout and object manipulation within the browser's memory space. Attackers typically craft web pages that contain malicious JavaScript or ActiveX components designed to trigger the specific memory access pattern that leads to corruption. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a use-after-free condition where freed memory blocks are accessed after being reallocated, or a heap overflow where data exceeds allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web browsing without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The exploitation process often involves crafting payloads that can bypass modern security mitigations such as DEP and ASLR through techniques like Return Oriented Programming or Just-In-Time compilation exploitation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Internet Explorer 10 was widely deployed across corporate networks and user environments, making successful exploitation potentially widespread. Security researchers have documented that the vulnerability can be triggered through various means including image processing, JavaScript execution, and object manipulation within web pages, making it difficult to defend against through simple content filtering approaches. The memory corruption affects critical browser components including the script engine, rendering engine, and memory management subsystems, creating multiple potential attack surfaces for exploitation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through Microsoft's security updates and patches. The recommended mitigation strategy involves deploying the official Microsoft security bulletin updates that address the specific memory corruption issues in Internet Explorer 10. System administrators should consider implementing browser hardening techniques including disabling unnecessary browser features, enabling enhanced security configurations, and restricting user privileges when browsing the internet. The vulnerability's exploitation potential necessitates comprehensive monitoring of network traffic for indicators of compromise related to malicious web content. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to known malicious websites. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing process isolation and memory protection mechanisms to limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct security awareness training to educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browsers updated. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the spread of exploitation attempts within corporate environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered defense strategies to protect against advanced persistent threats that may leverage similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Internet Explorer 10 and ensure timely patch deployment across all affected systems.