CVE-2015-6080 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6068, CVE-2015-6072, CVE-2015-6073, CVE-2015-6075, CVE-2015-6077, CVE-2015-6079, and CVE-2015-6082.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution when users visit malicious websites. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory management during web page rendering processes, creating a pathway for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer encounters specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory allocation or deallocation sequences, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be exploited for malicious purposes. Unlike other vulnerabilities in the same advisory such as CVE-2015-6068, CVE-2015-6072, and CVE-2015-6073, this particular issue represents a distinct memory corruption vector that requires specific exploitation techniques targeting the browser's JavaScript engine and rendering components. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this flaw by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in Internet Explorer 11, triggers the memory corruption through improper handling of complex web page structures or JavaScript objects. The exploitation process typically involves crafting web pages with malformed data structures that cause the browser to allocate memory incorrectly, potentially leading to buffer overflows or heap corruption. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves gaining access to a system through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The impact of this memory corruption vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions, where the browser may crash or become unresponsive when processing the malicious content. The vulnerability affects all versions of Internet Explorer 11 running on supported Windows operating systems, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of this browser. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially enabling full system compromise. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and execution of web content, specifically in areas where Internet Explorer handles dynamic memory allocation for web page elements. This makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to detect and prevent through standard security measures, as the malicious code can be embedded within seemingly legitimate web pages. The flaw represents a critical security gap in Microsoft's browser implementation, requiring immediate patching to prevent exploitation. Organizations should prioritize updating Internet Explorer 11 to the latest security patches, as Microsoft released emergency updates to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as browser hardening, disabling unnecessary browser features, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in browser implementations and highlights the risks associated with complex web rendering engines that handle dynamic content from untrusted sources. Security professionals should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual browser behavior, unexpected memory usage patterns, or attempts to access system resources from web browsers. The exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites that serve the malicious content to unsuspecting users.