CVE-2015-1744 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-2015-1735, CVE-2015-1740, CVE-2015-1745, and CVE-2015-1766.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 and represents a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically when processing malformed web content. Attackers can craft malicious websites that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions when IE attempts to render specific elements, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be exploited to gain arbitrary code execution privileges. The flaw exists in the way Internet Explorer manages memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering processes, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory addresses and execute malicious code with the privileges of the current user. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser level, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security measures that might protect the operating system. The attack surface is extensive given the widespread adoption of Internet Explorer across enterprise environments, making this a high-priority target for threat actors seeking persistent access to corporate networks. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write," both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that can lead to complete system compromise. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a vulnerability exploitation technique under T1210: "Exploitation of Remote Services" and T1059: "Command and Scripting Interpreter," as attackers can leverage the memory corruption to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. The operational impact extends beyond individual user devices to potentially enable lateral movement within networks, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with a foothold for further reconnaissance and privilege escalation activities. Organizations running older versions of Internet Explorer face the highest risk, as these legacy browsers lack modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention that are present in more recent browser versions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly insidious as it can be delivered through phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates that patched the memory handling routines in the browser's JavaScript engine and rendering components, though many organizations failed to deploy patches promptly, leaving systems exposed to active exploitation. The remediation process requires immediate patch deployment across all affected Internet Explorer installations, along with network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing browser isolation techniques and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that legacy systems are either upgraded or properly isolated from critical network resources.