Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2015-2502, MS15-093)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTMicrosoft Internet Explorer versions 7 through 11
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted website
Immediately apply the MS15-093 cumulative security update and transition from legacy browsers to modern secure alternatives
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Apply the MS15-093 cumulative security update immediately. For legacy Windows environments, you can verify and force the installation of the required KB update (e.g., KB3087985) using the following PowerShell commands:
# Check if the MS15-093 patch (KB3087985) is installed
Get-HotFix -Id KB3087985
# Force install the specific KB update using PSWindowsUpdate module
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force -Verbose
Get-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB3087985 -Install -AcceptAll -AutoReboot2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If immediate patching is not feasible, disable Internet Explorer or restrict its execution. Use Group Policy or registry modifications to prevent users from running the vulnerable browser.
# Disable Internet Explorer 11 execution via Registry
reg add 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' /v 'DisableEnterpriseMode' /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
# Kill any active Internet Explorer processes to prevent immediate exploitation
taskkill /F /IM iexplore.exe3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Run the following PowerShell script to audit the file version of Internet Explorer on your endpoints to ensure they are not running vulnerable binaries.
# Audit Internet Explorer binary version
$iePath = '${env:ProgramFiles}\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe'
if (Test-Path $iePath) {
$fileVersion = (Get-Item $iePath).VersionInfo.FileVersion
Write-Output 'Detected IE Version: $fileVersion'
# Compare this version against the patched versions specified in MS15-093
} else {
Write-Output 'Internet Explorer is not present in the standard path.'
}Block Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2015-2502) is a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer's rendering engine. It stems from improper handling of objects in memory (CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write). When the browser attempts to access or modify an object that has been improperly freed or uninitialized, it leads to memory corruption, allowing execution flow hijacking.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker exploits this vulnerability by hosting a specially crafted website designed to trigger the memory corruption when rendered by Internet Explorer. Victims are typically lured to the malicious site via spear-phishing emails, compromised legitimate websites (watering hole attacks), or malicious advertisements (malvertising). Once the victim visits the site, the malicious script triggers the memory corruption, bypasses browser sandboxes, and executes arbitrary shellcode with the privileges of the active user.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
This vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild as a zero-day in August 2015 and is cataloged in the CISA KEV list. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control over the affected endpoint. From there, attackers can perform lateral movement, exfiltrate sensitive corporate data, or deploy ransomware, posing a severe threat to enterprise infrastructure and business continuity.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Memory Corruption Vulnerability," as exploited in the wild in August 2015.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2015-2502)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2015-2502 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2015-2502 is rated CVSS 8.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 51.0%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2015-2502?
Primary impacted vendors include microsoft across internet explorer. Scope summary: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 running on supported Windows operating systems (including Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and Windows Server equivalents)
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2015-2502 before patching?
[Mitigation] Immediately apply the MS15-093 cumulative security update and transition from legacy browsers to modern secure alternatives Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
Generate an Internal Engineering Notice or CISO Report for CVE-2015-2502
Instantly format this advisory into an executive CISO summary or engineering patch ticket.
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