CVE-2013-3194 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2021
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 suffered from a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability arose from improper handling of memory operations during web page rendering processes, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input could corrupt memory structures and potentially execute arbitrary code. The flaw existed within the browser's memory management system, specifically in how it processed certain web elements and allocated memory for rendering web content. The vulnerability was classified as a heap-based buffer overflow, where malicious data could overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2013-3194 occurred when Internet Explorer encountered specially crafted web content that triggered memory corruption during normal browsing operations. Attackers could host malicious websites that, when visited by users running IE9, would cause the browser to allocate memory in ways that allowed code execution. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it required no user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site, making it a prime candidate for drive-by download attacks. The memory corruption typically manifested as heap corruption, where attacker-controlled data could overwrite function pointers or other critical memory structures, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the running browser process.
This vulnerability had significant operational impact across enterprise environments where Internet Explorer 9 was widely deployed. Organizations faced potential system compromise, data theft, and lateral movement opportunities for attackers who successfully exploited the flaw. The vulnerability's remote nature meant that attackers could target users without requiring physical access to systems, making it particularly dangerous in corporate networks. The memory corruption aspect also created potential for denial of service scenarios, where systems could become unstable or crash, disrupting business operations. Security teams had to urgently deploy patches and implement browser restrictions to mitigate exposure, as the vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to stack and heap-based buffer overflows, representing classic memory safety issues. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter), as attackers could leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious code and establish persistent access. Mitigation strategies included immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, browser isolation techniques, and network-based protections such as web application firewalls. Organizations also implemented browser hardening measures, restricted internet access, and enhanced user education to reduce exposure risk. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of regular security updates and proper memory management practices in browser development, influencing subsequent security hardening requirements for web browsers across the industry.