CVE-2015-1687 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 9 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."
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
The CVE-2015-1687 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 9 that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer processes certain web content structures. The flaw exists in the browser's JavaScript engine and object model handling, creating exploitable conditions that can be triggered through maliciously crafted web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption through improper memory management during object creation and manipulation within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine. Attackers can craft specific web pages containing malformed JavaScript code or HTML elements that, when rendered by the vulnerable browser, cause memory corruption in the browser process. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user or lead to denial of service conditions where the browser crashes or becomes unresponsive. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability affects a broad range of Internet Explorer versions that were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the affected period. Organizations running these older browser versions face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability can be exploited through drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites. The memory corruption aspect means that successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, as attackers can execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the victim user. Additionally, the vulnerability's exploitation does not require any special privileges or complex attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy browser support is maintained.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" classifications, which describe the memory corruption patterns typical of this class of vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1059: "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers can leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious code. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates to supported versions, deployment of security patches, and network-level protections such as web application firewalls to block malicious content. Additionally, browser hardening techniques including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict security policies, and regular security assessments can help reduce exposure to this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to address legacy software security issues.