CVE-2015-1705 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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-2015-1689.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering processes. The flaw manifested when Internet Explorer encountered specially crafted web pages that triggered improper memory management operations, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation by malicious actors. The vulnerability was classified as a heap-based buffer overflow in the browser's scripting engine, which is categorized under CWE-121 as heap-based buffer overflow conditions. Attackers could leverage this weakness by hosting malicious websites that would automatically execute malicious code when users visited the compromised pages, bypassing traditional security measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involved the exploitation of memory management functions within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine, particularly when processing complex web page elements such as arrays, objects, and memory allocations. When users navigated to malicious websites, the browser would attempt to allocate or reallocate memory blocks in ways that exceeded normal boundaries, causing memory corruption that could be leveraged for code execution. The memory corruption occurred during the processing of JavaScript objects and their associated memory structures, where the browser failed to properly validate memory boundaries before performing operations. This vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be triggered automatically without user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1705 was severe across enterprise environments, as Internet Explorer remained widely deployed across corporate networks and was often the default browser for many users. Organizations with legacy systems running these vulnerable versions faced significant risk of compromise, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain full system control, escalate privileges, and establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability meant that attackers could compromise systems from anywhere in the world without requiring physical access or additional attack vectors. Security analysts noted that this vulnerability was frequently exploited in the wild, with threat actors incorporating it into automated attack frameworks that scanned for vulnerable systems. The attack surface was broad due to the widespread adoption of Internet Explorer across different operating systems and enterprise environments, making it a preferred target for nation-state actors and organized cybercriminal groups.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability included immediate patching of affected Internet Explorer versions, which Microsoft addressed through security updates released in their regular update cycle. Organizations were advised to implement browser isolation techniques, deploy enhanced web filtering solutions, and consider transitioning to more secure browser alternatives such as Microsoft Edge or third-party browsers with better security track records. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security professionals recommended enabling Internet Explorer's built-in security features including Protected Mode, Enhanced Protected Mode, and SmartScreen filters to reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, organizations should have implemented proper incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be used for reconnaissance and lateral movement within compromised networks. This vulnerability demonstrated the critical importance of vulnerability management programs and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar issues before they could be exploited by malicious actors.