CVE-2015-2483 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted web site, aka "Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2022
The CVE-2015-2483 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11 that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive data from process memory through malicious web content. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that have historically been exploited to gain unauthorized access to system resources and confidential information. The flaw specifically affects the rendering engine of Internet Explorer, which processes web content and manages memory allocation for various browser components.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory operations within the browser's JavaScript engine and memory management systems. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages that trigger memory access patterns which cause the browser to leak sensitive information stored in process memory. This typically occurs through mechanisms such as heap spraying, memory corruption during object manipulation, or improper memory deallocation that leaves sensitive data accessible to unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a memory disclosure issue that aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2483 extends beyond simple information leakage, as the disclosed memory contents may include cryptographic keys, session tokens, user credentials, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged for further attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially reconstruct portions of memory that contain authentication tokens, personal identification information, or application-specific data. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users access sensitive corporate or financial systems through Internet Explorer. The attack vector requires user interaction with malicious web content, making social engineering and phishing campaigns particularly effective in exploiting this flaw.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's information disclosure techniques, specifically targeting the T1005 and T1059 categories that involve data hijacking and remote code execution through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign web browsing activities can be weaponized to extract confidential information from memory spaces that should remain protected. Organizations using Internet Explorer 10 and 11 should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, security patches, and network-based protections such as web application firewalls. Additional defensive measures should include user education about suspicious web content, implementation of strict browser security policies, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping browser components updated and following Microsoft's security advisory protocols to prevent exploitation of similar memory-related flaws in the future.