CVE-2015-6064 in Edge
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 "Microsoft Browser Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6084 and CVE-2015-6085.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11, as well as Microsoft Edge browser implementations. The issue stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating opportunities for remote code execution through maliciously crafted web content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting specially designed websites that trigger memory corruption conditions when the affected browsers attempt to process specific web elements. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within browser memory management systems, where improper bounds checking or memory deallocation sequences create exploitable conditions that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on targeted systems. This represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow scenario that falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack and heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of web content, particularly when processing complex JavaScript objects or DOM elements that interact with memory allocation routines. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where users may inadvertently visit compromised websites or receive malicious links through phishing campaigns. The remote execution capability means attackers do not require physical access to target systems, making this a particularly dangerous threat vector that can be exploited at scale. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which encompasses scripting and command execution through browser-based attacks. Organizations running affected browser versions face potential compromise of user sessions, data theft, and system takeover scenarios. The flaw's impact extends beyond individual user exposure to include broader network security implications, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with persistent access to compromised systems and enable lateral movement within networks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting web content that triggers specific memory allocation patterns within the browser's rendering engine. When Internet Explorer or Edge encounters malformed or specially constructed web elements, the memory corruption occurs during the object lifecycle management or garbage collection processes. This creates opportunities for attackers to overwrite memory locations with malicious code or manipulate program execution flow through controlled memory corruption. The vulnerability's manifestation typically involves heap corruption where attacker-controlled data is processed through memory allocation functions, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be leveraged for code execution. Security researchers have identified that the flaw occurs in the browser's JavaScript engine or HTML parsing components, where improper validation of user-supplied data leads to memory corruption. The exploitation process requires careful crafting of web content that can trigger the specific memory handling conditions, often involving complex interactions between multiple browser components. This vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern browser security models and how memory management flaws can create pathways for sophisticated attacks. The issue represents a gap in Microsoft's memory safety mechanisms and highlights the challenges of securing complex software systems that must handle vast amounts of untrusted input. Organizations should consider implementing browser isolation techniques and network segmentation to reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 as it enables command execution through browser-based attack vectors, while also mapping to T1203 for remote service exploitation. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patch deployment, browser hardening configurations, and user education to avoid visiting untrusted websites. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain comprehensive patch management programs to protect against known browser exploits.