CVE-2014-2777 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script with increased privileges via unspecified vectors, aka "Internet Explorer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-1778.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2777 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 8 through 11. This vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors can exploit specific vectors to execute arbitrary web scripts with elevated privileges. The flaw is particularly concerning as it operates outside the scope of CVE-2014-1778, indicating a distinct attack surface that requires separate mitigation strategies. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass standard security restrictions that typically prevent web content from executing with system-level privileges, creating a pathway for sophisticated attacks that could compromise entire systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves unspecified vectors that allow for privilege escalation within the Internet Explorer runtime environment. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-269 which describes improper privilege management, and potentially CWE-276 which covers incorrect permissions for critical resources. The flaw likely exploits memory corruption issues or improper validation of user input within the browser's rendering engine, allowing attackers to manipulate the security context in which web scripts execute. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with higher privileges than normally permitted, potentially enabling them to install malware, modify system files, or access sensitive data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use. Organizations running legacy systems or those unable to upgrade to newer browser versions face heightened exposure to sophisticated attacks that could compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can leverage it through web-based attacks without requiring local access to target systems. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1059.001 for command and script interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a valuable target for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to establish persistent access within networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2777 should focus on immediate patch deployment as provided by Microsoft security updates, which address the underlying privilege escalation mechanisms. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying enhanced browser isolation techniques. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of anomalous privilege escalation behaviors and unusual script execution patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Given the age of affected Internet Explorer versions, organizations should prioritize migration to supported browser versions as part of their long-term security strategy to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their environments.