CVE-2015-1747 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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-2015-1732, CVE-2015-1742, CVE-2015-1750, and CVE-2015-1753.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1747 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that enables remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The flaw operates within the browser's memory management subsystem, where improper validation of user-supplied data leads to unpredictable memory state conditions that can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and memory allocation processes. When processing specially crafted web content, the browser fails to properly validate memory boundaries and object references, leading to heap corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, specifically representing an out-of-bounds read condition that can be escalated to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the victim to visit a malicious website, making it a classic client-side attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate system exploitation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer 11 remains in use, particularly in legacy systems that have not been migrated to modern browser platforms. The remote code execution capability allows attackers to bypass standard security controls and potentially establish persistent access to compromised systems. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malicious payloads. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer face potential exposure to advanced persistent threats and automated exploit campaigns targeting this specific memory corruption vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1747 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the vulnerability was addressed in the May 2015 security bulletin. System administrators should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and deploying enhanced sandboxing mechanisms. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional protection by monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running outdated browser versions, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining updated security software to reduce the attack surface for this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.