CVE-2015-2390 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-2015-2385, CVE-2015-2397, CVE-2015-2404, CVE-2015-2406, and CVE-2015-2422.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes when processing malformed web elements, creating a condition where attackers could manipulate memory structures to execute arbitrary code on victim systems. The flaw manifested during the parsing and rendering of web pages, particularly when dealing with complex object models and memory references that were not properly validated or sanitized.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" categories, representing memory safety issues that occur when applications access memory locations outside the bounds of allocated buffers. Attackers exploited this weakness by crafting malicious web pages that triggered improper memory handling within Internet Explorer's rendering engine, specifically targeting the Trident layout engine responsible for processing html and javascript content. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be triggered through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represented a significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remained the primary browser for business operations. The remote execution capability meant that attackers could compromise systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and phishing campaigns. The memory corruption aspect also allowed for denial of service conditions that could crash the browser or even the entire operating system, depending on the exploitation method used. Organizations running older versions of Internet Explorer faced the highest risk due to the extended support lifecycle and the prevalence of legacy systems that could not be easily updated.
The attack surface for this vulnerability was extensive given the widespread adoption of Internet Explorer across corporate networks and the browser's integration with various enterprise applications and web services. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability could be leveraged through multiple attack vectors including malicious javascript, crafted html elements, and even through compromised legitimate websites that were infected with malicious content. The exploitation techniques typically involved creating memory corruption conditions that would allow attackers to inject and execute shellcode within the browser process, potentially escalating privileges to system level access. Organizations should have implemented immediate mitigations including browser updates, security patches, and network-based protections to prevent exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1059: "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers could leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious code and establish persistent access to compromised systems. The remediation approach required comprehensive patch management strategies, browser hardening measures, and user education programs to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. Organizations that delayed patch deployment or continued using unsupported browser versions remained vulnerable to this and related memory corruption vulnerabilities that were actively exploited in the wild during the period when this vulnerability was prevalent.