CVE-2015-2501 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2501 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 that enables remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or induce denial of service conditions. This vulnerability specifically affects Internet Explorer 9 running on Windows operating systems and demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex browser rendering engines that process untrusted web content. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within the browser's JavaScript engine, which processes and executes potentially malicious script code from web pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through ordinary web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes within Internet Explorer 9's rendering engine. When processing malicious web content, the browser fails to properly validate memory boundaries, leading to buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be manipulated by attackers to execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and aligns with the broader class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that have historically represented some of the most dangerous flaws in software applications. The attack vector typically involves hosting malicious JavaScript code on a web server that, when loaded in Internet Explorer 9, triggers the memory corruption through carefully crafted input sequences that exploit the browser's memory management functions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Internet Explorer 9 for business operations, as it can be leveraged by threat actors to gain unauthorized access to affected systems. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can compromise systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or specialized local privileges. The potential impact extends beyond simple code execution to include complete system compromise, data theft, and persistence mechanisms that attackers can establish within the compromised environment. Organizations may experience service disruption through denial of service conditions, while the arbitrary code execution capability allows for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and establishment of backdoors. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to techniques such as T1059 for command and script execution, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2501 should prioritize immediate remediation through Microsoft's security updates and patches, as the vulnerability has been addressed through official Microsoft security bulletins. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser security policies that include disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious traffic. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running unsupported versions of Internet Explorer that may remain vulnerable. The use of modern browser security features such as sandboxing, data execution prevention, and automatic updates can provide additional layers of protection. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for users to recognize potentially malicious websites and avoid visiting untrusted content. Given that Internet Explorer 9 reached end-of-life support, the most effective long-term solution involves migrating to supported browser versions or implementing alternative browsing solutions that provide better security guarantees and ongoing patch support.