CVE-2015-6159 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Microsoft Browser Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6140, CVE-2015-6142, CVE-2015-6143, CVE-2015-6153, CVE-2015-6158, and CVE-2015-6160.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge browsers, enabling remote code execution or denial of service attacks through malicious web content. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering, specifically when processing crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious websites that trigger memory corruption conditions in the browser's rendering engine, leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser level, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security measures and directly target the operating system through the browser's memory management functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves heap corruption or stack overflow conditions that occur when browsers process malformed or specially crafted web content. During normal browser operation, the rendering engines of Internet Explorer 11 and Edge allocate and manage memory for various web page elements including JavaScript objects, DOM nodes, and rendering structures. When encountering crafted input, the memory allocation routines fail to properly validate input boundaries or handle object lifecycles, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows. The memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations including function pointers, return addresses, or other control structures that govern program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation to include significant security implications for enterprise environments and individual users. Organizations running affected browsers face potential compromise of user systems through drive-by download attacks or phishing campaigns that deliver malicious web content. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers need only convince victims to visit malicious websites, making it particularly effective in targeted campaigns or broad exploitation efforts. Users may experience system crashes, application instability, or complete system compromise depending on the exploitation method used. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise security postures, as it can be used to establish persistent access to networks or to escalate privileges within compromised systems. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation for execution through browser-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch management and browser security hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates addressing this specific memory corruption flaw, and organizations must apply these patches promptly to protect their systems. Browser isolation techniques, such as running browsers in sandboxed environments or using alternative browsers, can provide additional protection layers. Network-based security controls including web proxies, content filtering systems, and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious web content before it reaches user systems. Additionally, implementing browser security policies that restrict JavaScript execution, disable unnecessary browser features, and enforce secure browsing practices can reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable browser versions and ensure timely remediation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping browser software updated and maintaining comprehensive security postures that address both known vulnerabilities and emerging threats in the browser ecosystem.