Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-060 - Important

Vulnerability in Microsoft Common Controls Could Allow Remote Code Execution (3059317)

Published: June 9, 2015

Version: 1.0

Executive Summary

This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user clicks a specially crafted link, or a link to specially crafted content, and then invokes F12 Developer Tools in Internet Explorer.

This security update is rated Important for all supported editions of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows RT 8.1. For more information, see the Affected Software section.

The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Windows handles objects in memory. For more information about the vulnerability, see the Vulnerability Information section.

For more information about this update, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 3059317.

Affected Software

The following software versions or editions are affected. Versions or editions that are not listed are either past their support life cycle or are not affected. To determine the support life cycle for your software version or edition, see Microsoft Support Lifecycle.

Operating System Maximum Security Impact Aggregate Severity Rating Updates Replaced*
Windows Vista
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows 7
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2012 R2 (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1
Windows RT[1](3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows RT 8.1[1](3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Server Core installation option
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Remote Code Execution Important 3051768 in MS15-054

Note The update is available for Windows Technical Preview and Windows Server Technical Preview. Customers running these operating systems are encouraged to apply the update, which is available via Windows Update.

[1]This update is available via Windows Update only.

*The Updates Replaced column shows only the latest update in a chain of superseded updates. For a comprehensive list of updates replaced, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog, search for the update KB number, and then view update details (updates replaced information is on the Package Details tab).

Severity Ratings and Vulnerability Identifiers

The following severity ratings assume the potential maximum impact of the vulnerability. For information regarding the likelihood, within 30 days of this security bulletin's release, of the exploitability of the vulnerability in relation to its severity rating and security impact, please see the Exploitability Index in the June bulletin summary.

Vulnerability Severity Rating and Maximum Security Impact by Affected Software
Affected Software Microsoft Common Control Use After Free Vulnerability - CVE-2015-1756 Aggregate Severity Rating
Windows Vista
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows 7
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows 8 for x64-based Systems (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows 8.1 for 32-bit Systems (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2012 R2 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1
Windows RT (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows RT 8.1 (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Server Core installation option
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) (3059317) Important  Remote Code Execution Important

Vulnerability Information

Microsoft Common Control Use After Free Vulnerability - CVE-2015-1756

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Common Controls when it accesses an object in memory that has not been correctly initialized or has been deleted. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by convincing a user to click a specially crafted link, or a link to specially crafted content. The vulnerability is then triggered when the user invokes F12 Developer Tools in Internet Explorer.

The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Windows handles objects in memory.

This vulnerability has been publicly disclosed. It has been assigned Common Vulnerability and Exposure number CVE-2015-1756. When this bulletin was originally released, Microsoft had not received any information to indicate that this issue had been publicly used to attack customers.

Mitigating Factors

Microsoft has not identified any mitigating factors for this vulnerability.

Workarounds

The following workarounds may be helpful in your situation:

  • Disable Internet Explorer Developer Tools via the System Registry
    Note Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or view the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe.

    To disable Internet Explorer Developer tools, create and run the following managed script :

    1. Save the following to a file with a .reg extension (e.g., Disable_IEDevTools.reg):

          Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IEDevTools]
          "Disabled"=dword:00000001
      
    2. Run the above registry script on the target machine with the following command:

          Regedit.exe /s Disable_IEDevTools.reg
      ```     
      
      

    Impact of workaround. The features provided by Internet Explorer Developer Tools (e.g., debugging, performance profiling, testing, viewing sources) will no longer be available on the system.

    How to undo the workaround:

    To undo the workaround, enable Internet Explorer Developer tools by creating and running the following managed script :

    1. Save the following to a file with a .reg extension (e.g., Enable_IEDevTools.reg):

          Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IEDevTools]
          "Disabled"=dword:00000000
      
    2. Run the above registry script on the target machine with the following command:

          Regedit.exe /s Enable_IEDevTools.reg
      

Security Update Deployment

For Security Update Deployment information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article referenced in the Executive Summary.

Acknowledgments

Microsoft recognizes the efforts of those in the security community who help us protect customers through coordinated vulnerability disclosure. See Acknowledgments for more information.

Disclaimer

The information provided in the Microsoft Knowledge Base is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Microsoft disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if Microsoft Corporation or its suppliers have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages so the foregoing limitation may not apply.

Revisions

  • V1.0 (June 9, 2015): Bulletin published.

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