CVE-2015-1713 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1713 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that enables remote attackers to execute malicious code with elevated system privileges. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of certain memory operations and privilege boundaries within the Windows operating system. The flaw exists in the way Internet Explorer processes specific web content, particularly when dealing with memory management and object handling in the browser's rendering engine. Attackers can craft malicious websites that exploit this weakness to bypass standard security restrictions and execute code with higher privileges than normally permitted.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of memory operations within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components. When a user visits a malicious website, the browser's processing of crafted content can lead to memory corruption that allows attackers to manipulate system privileges. This type of vulnerability typically involves buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management flaws that enable privilege escalation. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level in some cases, allowing attackers to transition from user-mode execution to system-mode execution, which represents a significant security compromise. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-20, which covers "Improper Input Validation," and CWE-264, which addresses "Permissions, Privileges and Access Controls."
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1713 is severe as it provides attackers with the capability to gain system-level access without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This makes it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios where users are tricked into visiting compromised websites. Once exploited, attackers can install malware, modify system files, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems. The vulnerability affects Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 systems running Internet Explorer 11. The exploitation process typically follows the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1190, which covers "Exploit Public-Facing Application." Organizations running these affected systems face significant risk of compromise, as the vulnerability can be leveraged for advanced persistent threats and zero-day attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1713 include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches released through Windows Update or Microsoft Update Catalog. System administrators should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing enhanced security zones, and using application whitelisting solutions. Network segmentation and monitoring can help detect suspicious traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Users should be educated about the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and should avoid downloading content from unknown sources. Organizations should also consider implementing exploit prevention technologies and maintaining current threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping browser software updated and following security best practices recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and other cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems potentially affected by this and similar vulnerabilities.