CVE-2015-2408 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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-2015-1767 and CVE-2015-2401.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 and represents a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering, specifically when processing crafted web content that triggers buffer overflows or heap corruption conditions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in a vulnerable IE browser, causes the application to corrupt memory regions and subsequently execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the browser.
The technical root cause of CVE-2015-2408 aligns with common software security weaknesses documented in CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. When Internet Explorer processes certain malformed or crafted HTML elements, JavaScript objects, or DOM manipulations, it fails to properly validate memory boundaries during allocation and deallocation operations. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or most critically, the execution of attacker-controlled code within the browser context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, particularly in legacy systems or organizations that have not fully migrated to modern browser platforms. The exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers can leverage it in phishing campaigns, drive-by download attacks, or compromised websites to gain unauthorized access to systems. The attack surface is extensive since any user visiting a malicious website with a vulnerable IE version could be compromised, making this a high-impact vulnerability for organizations with widespread IE usage. The fact that this vulnerability operates outside of user interaction makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without user knowledge or consent.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates, implementing browser hardening measures, and considering the deployment of modern browser alternatives. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping browser software up to date and following security best practices such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls, browser security extensions, and network-based protections to reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely remediation across all affected systems. The vulnerability highlights the ongoing need for secure coding practices and regular security assessments of browser components to prevent similar memory corruption issues in the future.