CVE-2015-6081 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 through 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-2015-6069.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6081 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 8 through 11. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content, making it a significant threat to enterprise and individual users alike. The flaw specifically resides within the browser's handling of memory management during web page rendering processes, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and potentially gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling mechanisms within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components. When processing specially crafted web pages containing malicious code, the browser fails to properly validate memory allocations and deallocations, leading to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited to execute arbitrary instructions. This type of vulnerability typically manifests as buffer overflows, use-after-free errors, or other memory management flaws that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires user interaction through visiting malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6081 extends beyond simple exploitation capabilities to encompass significant security implications for organizations relying on Internet Explorer. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Internet Explorer versions, including the older IE8 which may still be in use within legacy enterprise environments, and IE11 which was widely deployed in corporate networks. Organizations using these browsers face elevated risk of targeted attacks, particularly when users visit compromised websites or click on malicious links in emails or instant messages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the company released patches specifically addressing this memory corruption flaw. System administrators should prioritize updating all Internet Explorer installations to the latest security patches and consider implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary features, implementing strict content filtering, and deploying application whitelisting solutions. Additionally, organizations should consider transitioning away from Internet Explorer to more modern browsers with better security track records and more frequent security updates, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) classifications, and represents a typical attack vector categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) frameworks.