CVE-2015-1737 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 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-2015-1731, CVE-2015-1736, and CVE-2015-1755.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The issue arises when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory handling during rendering operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious web pages that, when loaded in affected browsers, cause memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user. The vulnerability specifically relates to how Internet Explorer handles certain memory operations during web page rendering, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that are commonly classified under CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-416 Use After Free. The attack vector requires user interaction through web browsing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently visit untrusted websites or receive phishing emails with malicious links. The vulnerability differs from related issues such as CVE-2015-1731, CVE-2015-1736, and CVE-2015-1755, indicating distinct code paths or memory handling mechanisms within the browser's rendering engine. From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites. The exploitation potential spans across multiple attack techniques listed in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, with the memory corruption enabling attackers to establish persistent access to affected systems. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer face substantial risk of compromise, as the vulnerability can be leveraged for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within networks. The remediation approach requires immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates or patches, alongside browser migration strategies to more secure modern alternatives such as Microsoft Edge or other contemporary browsers. Additionally, network-based protections including web application firewalls and browser isolation solutions can provide temporary mitigation while permanent fixes are implemented. The vulnerability highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining secure browser implementations and underscores the importance of regular security updates and vulnerability management processes in enterprise security programs.