CVE-2015-0100 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability resides in the browser's handling of memory management during web page rendering processes, specifically affecting how IE8 processes certain JavaScript objects and memory allocations. The flaw represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the browser attempts to manage memory for dynamically created objects within web pages. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by hosting malicious content on compromised websites or through phishing campaigns that lure users into visiting specially crafted web pages designed to trigger the memory corruption exploit.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations in memory management. The exploit typically involves crafting JavaScript code that forces IE8 to allocate memory in unexpected ways, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. The vulnerability affects systems running Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista with Internet Explorer 8 installed, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy systems remain operational. The memory corruption occurs during the browser's JavaScript engine processing, specifically when handling complex object hierarchies and memory references that exceed normal allocation boundaries.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it allows for remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The exploit can be delivered through various attack vectors including compromised websites, malicious advertisements, or spear-phishing emails containing links to vulnerable content. Once successfully exploited, attackers can gain full system control, install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected systems. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors and cybercriminals seeking to compromise enterprise networks. Organizations running IE8 are particularly vulnerable as this browser version lacks modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention that were introduced in later versions.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory corruption issue through improved memory management and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should also implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content. Additionally, users should be trained to recognize phishing attempts and avoid visiting untrusted websites, while network administrators should monitor for suspicious web traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing layered security approaches to protect against memory corruption exploits. Organizations should also consider migrating away from unsupported browser versions to receive ongoing security updates and protection against similar vulnerabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script-based execution and T1203 for exploitation for execution, highlighting the attack chain that leverages browser-based memory corruption for privilege escalation and persistent access within target environments.