CVE-2015-1634 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-1625.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1634 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11, classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration as CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise user systems. The flaw specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code that triggers improper memory management within the browser's rendering engine. Attackers can exploit this by hosting malicious web pages that contain malformed data structures or buffer overflow conditions that cause the browser to corrupt memory segments. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves leveraging the browser's memory corruption capabilities to overwrite critical system memory locations, potentially allowing for code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This memory corruption vulnerability operates at the kernel level of the browser's memory management system, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass many traditional security controls and sandboxing mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1634 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise capabilities. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious code on target systems with the same privileges as the user running Internet Explorer, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Internet Explorer versions, creating widespread exposure across enterprise environments where older browser versions remain in use. Organizations that have not updated their systems are particularly vulnerable to attacks leveraging this flaw, as it provides a reliable path for attackers to establish persistent access to network resources. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework places it within the Tactic of Execution and the Technique of Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can use the compromised browser to execute malicious commands and scripts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of Microsoft security patches and updates, as the primary fix involves addressing the underlying memory management flaw in the browser's rendering engine. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious web content. Network administrators should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and mandatory updates to ensure all systems remain protected against this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's impact on enterprise security underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive browser security policies to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and monitoring for exploitation attempts should be conducted to identify and respond to potential attacks targeting this specific memory corruption flaw.