CVE-2015-1627 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."
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1627 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 through 11. This vulnerability resides within the browser's handling of memory management and object manipulation, specifically targeting the way Internet Explorer processes certain web content that can lead to unauthorized privilege escalation. The flaw enables malicious actors to construct specially crafted websites that can exploit the browser's memory handling mechanisms to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to gain system-level access or perform actions that should be restricted to administrators or privileged users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Internet Explorer's rendering engine, particularly when processing certain JavaScript objects and memory allocations. Attackers can leverage this weakness by creating malicious web pages that trigger specific memory corruption patterns, which then allow the execution of arbitrary code with higher privileges than normally permitted. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-119 as a weakness related to improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, specifically manifesting as a memory corruption issue that occurs during object manipulation and memory allocation processes. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where memory management is critical for system security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1627 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a pathway to compromise entire systems through browser-based attacks. Once successfully exploited, an attacker could potentially install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Internet Explorer versions, making it particularly concerning for organizations with legacy systems still running older browser versions. The attack surface is significantly broadened by the fact that Internet Explorer was widely used across enterprise environments, and the vulnerability could be triggered simply by visiting a compromised website or clicking on malicious links in emails or documents.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' technique where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to gain higher system privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing robust security measures such as application whitelisting, sandboxing, and regular security patches. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through Microsoft's security updates, while also implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to malicious websites. Additionally, user education about the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and clicking on suspicious links remains crucial in defending against this type of attack vector that exploits human factors in addition to technical vulnerabilities.