Critical

Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability

IdentifiersCVE-2015-0020CWE-119

CVE-2015-0020 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11. According to the provided content, the flaw can be triggered when a user visits a specially crafted web page in a vulnerable version of Internet Explorer. Microsoft classifies it as an Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability and indicates that exploitation may result in arbitrary code execution or denial of service. The bulletin states that the affected update addresses these issues by changing how Internet Explorer handles objects in memory, but the specific vulnerable function or code path for CVE-2015-0020 is not provided in the supplied material.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation can allow remote code execution in the security context of the current user. If the user is running with administrative privileges, the attacker may be able to take full control of the affected system. The provided description also notes that exploitation may alternatively cause denial of service through memory corruption. Client systems are generally at higher risk, while affected Windows Server systems are somewhat mitigated by Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

The supplied content states that Microsoft identified no specific workarounds or mitigating factors for the memory corruption vulnerabilities. Practical exposure reduction is limited to standard hardening measures such as operating without administrative privileges and reducing browsing to untrusted content. On Windows Server platforms, Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration reduces exposure to specially crafted web content, but this is not presented as a complete mitigation.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply Microsoft's Security Update 3034682 for the affected Internet Explorer versions. For Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11, the provided content states that both update 3021952 and update 3034196 are required for full protection, and Microsoft noted that 3021952 should be installed before 3034196 when installing manually. On some platforms, installing 3021952 also installs updates 3023607 and 3036197 automatically.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

Microsoft CorporationInternet Explorerapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

2 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

2 SOURCESView more in app

microsoft technet subdomainNews

Mar 1, 2023

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-009 - Critical | Microsoft Learn

A memory corruption vulnerability in Internet Explorer that could allow remote code execution if a user views specially crafted web content.

microsoft technet subdomainNews

Mar 1, 2023

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-009 - Critical | Microsoft Learn

A memory corruption vulnerability in Internet Explorer that could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage.

What this page doesn’t show

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This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity