CVE-2015-6083 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-2015-6151.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6083 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 8 through 11. This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution flaws that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems or cause service disruption. The flaw specifically manifests when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web content, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning due to the widespread adoption of Internet Explorer across enterprise environments and the browser's privileged position in handling web content.
The technical root cause of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering and object manipulation within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine. When processing malformed or crafted web content, the browser fails to properly validate memory boundaries and object references, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the browser's memory management routines do not adequately check array bounds or object lifetimes, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout to overwrite critical system structures. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflow conditions that are commonly categorized under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient memory bounds checking enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6083 extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios that can render affected systems unusable. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger the memory corruption when users visit compromised websites or click on malicious links in email messages or instant messaging applications. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent backdoors within the victim's environment. Given that Internet Explorer was widely used across corporate networks, this vulnerability posed a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure, particularly in environments where users had administrative privileges or access to sensitive data. The attack surface is further expanded by the browser's integration with Windows operating systems, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft's security patches and updates, configuring Internet Explorer security settings to restrict potentially dangerous content, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls. The mitigation strategy should include disabling automatic execution of ActiveX controls, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying browser isolation techniques. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of known vulnerabilities and execution of malicious code through web browsers. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to recognize phishing attempts that may deliver malicious web content, as well as establishing incident response procedures to handle potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious web traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.