CVE-2015-2502 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," as exploited in the wild in August 2015.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2502 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 through 11, demonstrating the persistent security challenges associated with legacy browser components. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages maliciously crafted web content to exploit memory handling mechanisms within the browser's rendering engine. The flaw specifically targets the way Internet Explorer processes certain web elements, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation occurred in the wild during August 2015, indicating that threat actors had developed working payloads against this specific memory corruption weakness. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Internet Explorer's widespread deployment across enterprise environments, where older versions often remain in use due to compatibility requirements and delayed patch management processes. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
The technical implementation of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components. Attackers exploit this weakness by crafting web pages containing specially formatted data structures that trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions when processed by the browser. The vulnerability specifically affects how the browser handles certain object references and memory allocation patterns, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the browser's memory space. When a user visits an exploit page, the browser's memory management routines fail to properly validate the integrity of processed data, allowing attackers to manipulate memory addresses and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple web navigation without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting the malicious website, making it an ideal candidate for drive-by download attacks and watering hole campaigns. The exploitation process typically involves multiple stages including initial memory corruption, followed by privilege escalation and code execution within the browser context.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2502 extends far beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability creates persistent access points for attackers to establish footholds within target networks. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and lateral movement opportunities when this vulnerability is exploited. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, as attackers can execute code with the same privileges as the compromised browser process, potentially leading to domain controller compromise in enterprise environments. Network defenders must recognize that this vulnerability represents a critical threat vector that can bypass traditional security controls, as the attack occurs within the browser itself and can leverage legitimate browser functionality to execute malicious code. The vulnerability's exploitation in the wild during August 2015 demonstrates the active threat landscape that existed at the time, with threat actors actively developing and deploying exploits against this specific memory corruption weakness. Organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability or migrate away from unsupported Internet Explorer versions faced significant risk of becoming compromised systems within their network infrastructure, potentially serving as entry points for more extensive attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2502 require immediate patch deployment and comprehensive browser security hardening measures to address the memory corruption vulnerability. Microsoft released security updates that patched this vulnerability, and organizations must prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected Internet Explorer versions. The recommended approach includes implementing browser security features such as data execution prevention, address space layout randomization, and enhanced protection against memory corruption attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques, such as running Internet Explorer in protected mode or using virtualization approaches to limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the memory corruption attack pattern, emphasizing the need for defensive measures that focus on preventing memory manipulation attacks. Network security controls should include web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block malicious web content targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security assessments to identify systems running unsupported Internet Explorer versions and prioritize their migration to modern browser platforms that have better security track records and more frequent security updates. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security and demonstrates why organizations should avoid using legacy browser versions that are no longer supported by vendors.