CVE-2015-1735 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 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-2015-1740, CVE-2015-1744, CVE-2015-1745, and CVE-2015-1766.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1735 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11, classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through the manipulation of crafted web content, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy browser support remains prevalent. The flaw specifically manifests when Internet Explorer processes certain web page elements, leading to improper memory handling that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption techniques that leverage Internet Explorer's rendering engine to manipulate heap memory structures during web page processing. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially formatted elements that trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions within the browser's memory management system. This type of exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities to execute code remotely. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation scenarios, as successful exploitation can allow attackers to run malicious code with the privileges of the victim user.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1735 is significant for organizations maintaining older Internet Explorer versions, as these browsers represent a substantial attack surface for threat actors targeting legacy systems. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Internet Explorer versions, creating widespread exposure across corporate networks where browser upgrades may be delayed or restricted due to application compatibility concerns. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face increased risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access or deploy additional malicious payloads. The memory corruption nature of the flaw makes it particularly challenging to detect through standard network monitoring, as the exploitation may not generate obvious network traffic patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1735 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the vendor released comprehensive fixes for all affected Internet Explorer versions. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and utilizing sandboxing technologies to limit potential exploitation impact. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to prevent exploitation attempts from reaching vulnerable systems. Security teams should also consider implementing browser migration strategies to encourage adoption of modern browser versions that have better security features and more frequent updates, while maintaining legacy support through virtualization or containerization solutions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to address similar issues in other legacy software components.