CVE-2015-6134 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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-2015-6141.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from CVE-2015-6141 and demonstrates the ongoing security challenges associated with legacy browser implementations. The flaw occurs when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web pages that trigger memory corruption behaviors within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how the browser handles memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering operations. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices that allow attackers to manipulate memory pointers or overwrite critical memory regions, creating opportunities for code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting web content that forces Internet Explorer 9 to allocate memory in ways that result in memory corruption patterns. Attackers can leverage this flaw by hosting malicious websites that contain specially constructed HTML, JavaScript, or ActiveX components designed to trigger the memory corruption behavior. When a user visits such a compromised website, the browser's memory management system becomes corrupted, potentially allowing remote code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely deployed browser version and can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on Internet Explorer 9, as it can be exploited through drive-by downloads or compromised websites that users might inadvertently visit. The memory corruption can lead to system crashes, browser instability, or complete system compromise depending on the execution context and memory layout. Security professionals must consider that this vulnerability may be exploited in targeted attacks where adversaries craft specific web content designed to exploit the memory corruption patterns in the browser's JavaScript engine or rendering components. The exploitation can occur across various network environments and requires no additional privileges beyond standard user access, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where users may browse untrusted websites.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including deploying Microsoft security updates and patches that address this specific memory corruption flaw in Internet Explorer 9. The recommended approach involves upgrading to supported browser versions or applying the relevant security patches provided by Microsoft. Additionally, implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls, restricting JavaScript execution, and employing content filtering solutions can help reduce the attack surface. Network security controls including web proxies and intrusion prevention systems should be configured to monitor and block suspicious web content that may exploit this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should also include user education to avoid visiting untrusted websites and to maintain awareness of potential phishing attempts that could leverage this memory corruption vulnerability for initial access. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a memory safety issue that can be addressed through proper bounds checking and memory management practices. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability fits within ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" and demonstrates how attackers can leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code remotely.