CVE-2015-1718 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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-2015-1658, CVE-2015-1706, CVE-2015-1711, and CVE-2015-1717.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1718 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering and script execution processes, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit memory management errors that can result in arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components, where crafted web content can trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption patterns. These memory management errors occur when the browser processes specially constructed HTML, JavaScript, or ActiveX content that manipulates memory pointers or object references beyond their allocated boundaries. The flaw operates at the intersection of browser engine architecture and memory safety mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through phishing emails, compromised websites, or drive-by download scenarios without requiring physical access to target systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user machines to enterprise environments where browser-based attacks can serve as initial access vectors for broader network infiltration. Additionally, the memory corruption nature makes detection and prevention challenging as the attack patterns can be subtle and may not immediately manifest as obvious system crashes or errors.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through Microsoft's security updates and patches, as this vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild during 2015. The mitigation strategy should include implementing browser isolation techniques, deploying web application firewalls, and establishing network monitoring to detect suspicious traffic patterns. Security teams should also consider browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls, implementing strict content security policies, and maintaining updated threat intelligence feeds to identify malicious domains associated with exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) classifications, and represents a technique commonly catalogued in the ATT&CK framework under T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) tactics. Organizations should also implement multi-layered security approaches including regular security assessments, user awareness training, and incident response procedures to effectively counter this and similar browser-based threats.