CVE-2015-1745 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-2015-1744, and CVE-2015-1766.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through malicious web content. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering, specifically affecting how IE processes certain HTML elements and JavaScript operations. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages that trigger buffer overflows or use after free conditions in IE's memory management routines, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability type, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and is categorized as a heap-based memory corruption issue. The attack surface is extensive given IE's widespread deployment across various Windows operating systems and the ease with which attackers can deliver malicious content through compromised websites or social engineering campaigns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves IE's rendering engine failing to properly validate memory allocations when processing complex web page structures. When a malicious page is loaded, IE's JavaScript engine or HTML parser encounters malformed data that causes memory corruption in the browser's address space. This corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially redirecting execution flow to attacker-controlled code. The vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The memory corruption occurs during normal browser operations, making detection difficult and exploitation straightforward for skilled attackers who can craft payloads that bypass modern security mitigations like DEP and ASLR. The vulnerability affects all supported versions of Internet Explorer from version 6 through 11, representing a broad attack surface across multiple Windows versions including Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and Windows Server 2008 through 2012.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. Successful exploitation can result in privilege escalation, data theft, system monitoring, and establishment of persistent access points within target networks. Organizations using older versions of Internet Explorer face particularly high risk due to the lack of modern security features and the extended support lifecycle that makes patching more challenging. The vulnerability demonstrates the dangers of legacy browser support and highlights how older software components can become persistent attack vectors in enterprise environments. Network defenders must consider this vulnerability as part of broader threat landscape assessments, particularly when analyzing web traffic and user behavior patterns. The impact is amplified by the fact that many enterprise environments still maintain legacy systems that continue to use Internet Explorer, creating persistent exposure windows for attackers. This vulnerability also illustrates the importance of browser sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms that Microsoft has since improved in newer browser versions and operating system releases.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and deployment of Microsoft security updates, as well as implementing network-based defenses and user education programs. Organizations should prioritize disabling Internet Explorer in enterprise environments where possible and transitioning to modern browsers with better security track records. Network segmentation and web filtering solutions can help reduce exposure by blocking access to known malicious domains and implementing content inspection for suspicious web content. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual browser behavior, memory access patterns, and system calls that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing layered defense strategies that protect against multiple attack vectors simultaneously. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other browser components and web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing exploit prevention technologies and behavioral monitoring systems that can detect anomalous execution patterns consistent with memory corruption exploits. The incident highlights the necessity of comprehensive vulnerability management programs that address not only known vulnerabilities but also the inherent risks associated with legacy software components that remain in production environments.