CVE-2015-1729 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 allows remote attackers to read content from a different (1) domain or (2) zone via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 contained a critical information disclosure vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to access content from different domains or security zones through maliciously crafted websites. This vulnerability represents a significant breach in the browser's security model and demonstrates a fundamental failure in cross-origin resource protection mechanisms. The flaw specifically relates to how Internet Explorer handled certain cross-domain requests and content rendering operations, creating an avenue for unauthorized data access that bypassed normal security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of cross-domain requests within the browser's rendering engine. Attackers could construct malicious web pages that leveraged specific JavaScript APIs and DOM manipulation techniques to access resources that should have been restricted due to security zone boundaries. This issue falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and specifically aligns with CWE-1203 "Cross-Origin Resource Access" vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exploited the browser's handling of security contexts where resources from different zones should have been isolated but were instead accessible through crafted attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1729 was substantial as it allowed attackers to perform cross-site information disclosure attacks that could potentially access sensitive data from different domains or security zones. This included accessing cookies, local storage data, and other resources that should have been protected by the browser's security model. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it affected multiple versions of Internet Explorer, creating a wide attack surface that could be exploited against users across different organizational environments. The attack vector required only a malicious website that could be delivered through social engineering or other means, making it highly practical for real-world exploitation.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.001 "Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols" and T1003.001 "OS Credential Dumping: LSASS Memory" through the information disclosure capabilities it provided. Organizations using affected versions of Internet Explorer faced significant risks as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather sensitive information from users' browsing sessions, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability also demonstrated the importance of proper sandboxing and security zone enforcement within browser implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability included applying Microsoft's security patches and updates released as part of the regular security update cycle. Organizations should have implemented browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary scripting capabilities and ensuring proper security zone configurations. The recommended approach involved upgrading to supported browser versions that contained fixes for this vulnerability, as well as implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls to detect and block malicious content. Additionally, user education about avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining current security patches remained crucial defensive measures against this information disclosure vulnerability.