CVE-2015-2425
Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2015-2425 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition. The vulnerability exists in how Internet Explorer handles objects in memory, and can be triggered when a user visits a specially crafted web page. Successful exploitation gives the attacker the same user rights as the current user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. CISA has listed CVE-2015-2425 in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild, and its EPSS percentile of 96.9% indicates a very high probability of exploitation activity.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | internet explorer | 11 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1032894(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2015/ms15-065(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2015-2425(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
No specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2015-2425 in the NVD database. The vulnerability is a memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer's rendering engine. When Internet Explorer processes objects in memory during page rendering, improper handling can corrupt critical data structures, allowing an attacker to redirect code execution to arbitrary locations. This class of vulnerability in browser engines typically involves use-after-free or type confusion conditions in the JavaScript engine or DOM processing code.
Learn more: CWE Overview
Impact Analysis
CVE-2015-2425 allows remote code execution or denial of service through a memory corruption vulnerability in Internet Explorer. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable through a malicious web page, requiring no authentication and only that a user visits the crafted page. Confidentiality (High): Successful exploitation grants the attacker code execution with the current user's privileges, enabling access to all user-accessible data including files, credentials, and browser session data. Integrity (High): The attacker can install persistent malware, modify system files, and establish command-and-control channels for further exploitation. Availability (High): Imprecise exploitation or intentional attack can cause the browser or system to crash, resulting in denial of service. With an EPSS percentile of 96.9%, this vulnerability has a very high probability of active exploitation, underscoring the urgency of migrating away from Internet Explorer.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2015-2425 by listing it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a remediation deadline of June 15, 2022. The EPSS percentile of 96.9% indicates a very high likelihood of exploitation activity. Memory corruption vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer's rendering engine were consistently among the most targeted flaws in web-based attack campaigns, commonly exploited through drive-by download attacks delivered via compromised websites, malvertising networks, or phishing emails containing links to exploit pages.
Remediation
- Apply Microsoft security updates per vendor instructions as required by the CISA KEV catalog. Install all relevant patches addressing CVE-2015-2425 in Internet Explorer.
- Migrate away from Internet Explorer to a modern, supported browser. Microsoft has ended Internet Explorer support, and continuing use exposes organizations to this and many other unpatched memory corruption vulnerabilities.
- Disable Internet Explorer through Group Policy if migration is not yet complete, preventing users from inadvertently accessing content through the vulnerable browser.
- Implement web content filtering and browser isolation solutions to prevent drive-by download attacks. Use DNS-based filtering and intrusion prevention to block known malicious domains targeting browser vulnerabilities.
- Enforce Enhanced Protected Mode and 64-bit processes in Internet Explorer if it must remain temporarily available, which provides additional sandbox and ASLR protections that increase the difficulty of exploitation.
Technical Details
CVE-2015-2425 is a memory corruption vulnerability in the Microsoft Internet Explorer rendering engine. The flaw occurs when the browser improperly handles objects in memory during the rendering of web page content. When a user navigates to a specially crafted web page, the malicious content triggers a code path that mishandles an object reference, corrupting adjacent memory. This memory corruption can overwrite critical data structures such as virtual function table (vtable) pointers or object metadata, allowing the attacker to redirect execution to shellcode or ROP gadgets. The attack is entirely web-based, requiring only that the victim visit a malicious page using Internet Explorer. The vulnerability can result in either reliable code execution (when the memory corruption is precisely controlled) or a browser crash (denial of service) when the corruption leads to an unrecoverable state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2015-2425 being actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2015-2425 is actively exploited. CISA confirmed its inclusion in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of June 15, 2022. The EPSS percentile of 96.9% indicates very high exploitation probability.
What products are affected by CVE-2015-2425?
CVE-2015-2425 affects Microsoft Internet Explorer. The browser has reached end of life and no longer receives security updates. Organizations should migrate to a modern, supported browser.
How do I fix CVE-2015-2425?
Apply Microsoft security updates and migrate away from Internet Explorer to a modern browser such as Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Firefox. Disable Internet Explorer through Group Policy if immediate migration is not possible.
How severe is CVE-2015-2425?
CVE-2015-2425 is a remote code execution vulnerability with an EPSS percentile of 96.9%, indicating very high exploitation probability. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code with the current user's privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Need Help With Vulnerability Management?
Our security experts can help you prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities effectively.