CVE-2015-6146 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 and 8 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-2015-6145.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6146 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 and 8 that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically affects legacy browser versions that were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the mid-2010s period, creating significant security risks for organizations that had not yet migrated to supported browser versions. The flaw stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, where maliciously crafted web content can trigger buffer overflows or heap corruption that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim user. This vulnerability operates under the CWE-125 weakness category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The attack vector requires a user to visit a malicious website or open a specially crafted email attachment that contains malicious web content, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption patterns that exploit the browser's handling of JavaScript objects and memory allocation routines. When Internet Explorer processes malformed web content, particularly involving complex object manipulation or improper memory deallocation, it can result in memory addresses becoming corrupted or overwritten with attacker-controlled data. This memory corruption typically manifests through heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it allows attackers to execute code at the user's privilege level, potentially leading to full system compromise. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) tactics, as attackers can leverage the browser's JavaScript engine to execute malicious payloads. The memory corruption occurs during normal browsing operations, making detection particularly challenging and allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to compromised systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The widespread deployment of Internet Explorer 7 and 8 in enterprise environments during the affected period meant that many organizations were exposed to this vulnerability for extended periods. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal credentials, or establish persistent backdoors. Additionally, the denial of service aspect of this vulnerability can be used to disrupt business operations by rendering critical web applications inaccessible to legitimate users. The remediation process requires immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, but many organizations may have delayed patching due to compatibility concerns with legacy applications. Organizations should implement network segmentation, web application firewalls, and user education programs to mitigate exposure while transitioning to supported browser versions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the dangers of running unsupported software versions, which aligns with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-128 and ISO/IEC 27001 security frameworks.