CVE-2015-2383 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-2015-2384 and CVE-2015-2425.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through specially crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering and script execution processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's memory management mechanisms. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes malformed or malicious web content that triggers improper memory allocation or deallocation patterns, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory safety checks within Internet Explorer's rendering engine. Attackers can craft web pages containing malicious JavaScript or HTML elements that, when loaded in the browser, cause memory corruption through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors. The vulnerability operates at the application level where the browser's JavaScript engine interacts with the underlying memory management system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, particularly in legacy systems that have not been migrated to modern browsers. The remote execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites, making it a high-severity threat that can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. Organizations may experience widespread security incidents as this vulnerability can be exploited across multiple platforms and configurations where Internet Explorer 11 is deployed.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including disabling Internet Explorer 11 in enterprise environments where possible, deploying browser isolation solutions, and ensuring that all systems have the latest security patches applied. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write categories, indicating memory safety issues that can be exploited through improper bounds checking in memory operations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and browser security policies to limit the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for indicators of compromise and implementing endpoint detection and response solutions can help identify and mitigate exploitation attempts before they succeed.
The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in browser security where complex rendering engines and scripting environments create numerous potential attack vectors. This particular flaw represents a classic memory corruption vulnerability that has been a persistent threat in web browsers, requiring continuous vigilance and proactive security measures. Organizations must maintain comprehensive patch management programs and conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability are consistent with those found in the mitre ATT&CK framework under techniques related to exploitation of web browsers and memory corruption attacks, emphasizing the need for layered defensive strategies that address both the technical flaw and the broader attack landscape.