CVE-2014-2800 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 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-2014-2807 and CVE-2014-2809.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2022
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 and represents a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of memory operations when processing specially crafted web content, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute malicious code on vulnerable systems. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects such a wide range of Internet Explorer versions spanning over a decade of releases, making it a prime target for widespread exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption through improper object handling and memory management routines within the browser's rendering engine. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios when Internet Explorer attempts to parse and render the crafted content. These memory corruption issues typically occur during the processing of HTML elements, JavaScript execution, or object model interactions within the browser environment. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" categories, which represent common memory safety issues in software applications. The attack vector specifically targets the browser's memory management subsystem, where improper validation of user-supplied input leads to exploitable memory corruption conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential system compromise and denial of service scenarios. Successful exploitation can result in complete system takeover, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Internet Explorer versions means that organizations with legacy systems or those slow to patch could remain exposed to attacks for extended periods. Additionally, the denial of service component can be leveraged for persistent disruption of services, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where browser-based access is fundamental to operations. The vulnerability's relationship to other CVEs such as CVE-2014-2807 and CVE-2014-2809 demonstrates that Microsoft was actively addressing multiple memory corruption issues in the same software component during this period, indicating a systemic problem in the browser's memory management architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment as the primary defense mechanism, as Microsoft released security updates specifically addressing this memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and restricting access to potentially malicious websites. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts, though these measures are less effective against zero-day exploits. The vulnerability's characteristics make it particularly susceptible to exploit mitigation through modern security features like address space layout randomization, data execution prevention, and exploit protection mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious browser behavior and network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1059: "Command and Scripting Interpreter" techniques, highlighting the attack chain from initial compromise to command execution. The vulnerability's exploitation typically follows a pattern of initial access through malicious web content, followed by privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, making comprehensive endpoint protection and user education essential components of defense strategy.