CVE-2014-0235 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-1751 and CVE-2014-1755.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0235 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's memory management mechanisms. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory handling, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the victim's system or complete application crash.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Internet Explorer's rendering engine, which falls under the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities. This type of flaw typically occurs when applications fail to properly validate or manage memory allocations, leading to situations where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory regions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser level, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the affected browser. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of web content, specifically when handling certain JavaScript or HTML elements that trigger improper memory access patterns.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Internet Explorer 9 as their primary browser. Attackers can craft malicious websites that, when visited by users, automatically exploit the memory corruption flaw without requiring any user interaction beyond navigation. The exploit can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or maintain persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user machines to potentially affect entire corporate networks, particularly in environments where Internet Explorer 9 remains the default browser or where legacy applications require its use.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected systems and updating to supported browser versions. The mitigation strategy should include network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious content targeting this specific vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening measures, including disabling unnecessary browser features, restricting JavaScript execution, and employing sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploits. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the mitre attack framework under the technique of exploitation for client execution, and represents a classic example of a memory corruption vulnerability that can be addressed through proper software patching and security configuration management. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and the potential consequences of running unsupported browser versions in enterprise environments.