CVE-2015-2499 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-2486, CVE-2015-2487, CVE-2015-2490, CVE-2015-2492, CVE-2015-2494, and CVE-2015-2498.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 through 11 that enables remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations when processing specially crafted web content, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the target system. The flaw specifically affects the browser's rendering engine and memory management systems, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the browser's memory management, where improper bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory pointers and execute arbitrary instructions in the context of the victim's browser process. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be leveraged to bypass modern security mitigations such as DEP and ASLR, making it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2499 extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential system compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to complete network infiltration and persistent access. The memory corruption occurs during normal web page rendering operations, meaning that users can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website or viewing an email with embedded malicious content. This vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks of complex browser architectures where memory safety issues can create pathways for sophisticated attacks. The flaw's exploitation typically involves crafting malicious JavaScript or HTML content that triggers the memory corruption when processed by Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as a technique for code injection and privilege escalation underscores its potential for serious security breaches. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited in the wild without requiring any user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2499 focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures to protect against exploitation. Microsoft released security updates that address the memory corruption issue by implementing proper bounds checking and memory management procedures within the affected browser versions. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the relevant security patches to prevent exploitation, as this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Additional protective measures include implementing strict web content filtering, disabling unnecessary browser features, and using enhanced security configurations such as IE Enhanced Security Configuration. Network-based protections like web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening techniques and monitoring for suspicious activities related to memory corruption attempts. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Internet Explorer versions from 7 through 11 necessitates comprehensive patch management across all affected systems, as older versions may not receive support for newer security updates. Organizations should also consider migrating away from unsupported browser versions to reduce their attack surface and ensure continued security support for their web browsing infrastructure.