CVE-2015-2542 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 and Microsoft Edge allow 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
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11, as well as Microsoft Edge browser implementations. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations during web page rendering, creating opportunities for remote code execution or denial of service conditions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages that trigger memory corruption when processed by the affected browsers, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The flaw manifests in the browser's memory management systems where insufficient validation occurs during object manipulation, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common precursors to memory corruption exploits. The attack surface extends across all Windows operating systems that include these browser versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where user interaction with web content is frequent. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks, as successful exploitation can result in code execution at the system level, potentially allowing for persistent access and data exfiltration. The memory corruption aspect means that attackers can manipulate heap memory structures to redirect execution flow, often through return-oriented programming or other advanced exploitation techniques. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code within the browser context. The impact extends beyond immediate execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where system resources become unavailable due to corrupted memory states. Microsoft has classified this as a remote code execution vulnerability, indicating that no user interaction is required beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous for users who browse untrusted content. The exploitation requires sophisticated knowledge of browser internals and memory layout, but the widespread use of Internet Explorer and Edge makes this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking broad impact. Organizations should consider implementing browser isolation techniques and strict content filtering as mitigation strategies, while also maintaining robust patch management processes to address this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing complex browser environments where numerous components interact, creating potential attack vectors that can be exploited through seemingly benign web content. This particular flaw highlights the importance of memory safety in browser implementations and the need for continuous security assessments of core browser components that handle untrusted input from web pages.