CVE-2015-1708 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 and 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 • 05/17/2022
The CVE-2015-1708 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 and 8 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 manifests when malicious websites attempt to manipulate memory allocation and deallocation patterns in ways that were not properly validated by the browser's security mechanisms, creating opportunities for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted web pages that trigger memory corruption conditions in Internet Explorer's memory management subsystem. Attackers can leverage this flaw by constructing web content that forces the browser to improperly handle memory references, leading to buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be leveraged for code execution. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where the memory corruption causes the browser to crash or become unstable, effectively rendering the targeted system unusable for web browsing activities. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common patterns in memory corruption vulnerabilities affecting web browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1708 is significant given that Internet Explorer 7 and 8 were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the affected period, particularly in legacy systems where upgrading to newer browser versions was not immediately possible. Organizations running these vulnerable versions faced substantial risk of compromise, as the vulnerability could be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack surface was particularly broad since these older browser versions were commonly used in corporate environments where users had limited ability to update their software, making the exploitation of this vulnerability a high-priority concern for security teams managing legacy systems. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers legitimate user execution, as exploitation could occur through normal web browsing without additional malicious user actions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected systems, as Microsoft released security updates addressing the memory corruption issues in Internet Explorer 7 and 8. Organizations should have implemented browser isolation techniques and network-based protections to limit exposure while planning for eventual retirement of these legacy browser versions. Security teams needed to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected browser versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features and implementing strict content security policies to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should have considered implementing web application firewalls and network monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.