CVE-2014-2804 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 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-2014-2789, CVE-2014-2795, and CVE-2014-2798.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2024
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 8 through 11 and represents a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically when processing crafted web content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web pages that trigger memory corruption during normal browsing operations, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser level where user interactions are frequent and predictable, making successful exploitation highly probable in real-world scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption patterns that occur when Internet Explorer processes certain combinations of web elements and JavaScript code. The flaw typically manifests through heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions within the browser's memory management systems. These memory corruption issues can be triggered by malformed HTML elements, JavaScript objects, or ActiveX controls that are improperly validated during page rendering. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses memory safety issues in software applications. The attack vector requires user interaction through web browsing, making it particularly challenging to defend against since legitimate web traffic can contain malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass significant security risks for enterprise environments and individual users alike. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions face potential compromise of sensitive data, system takeover, and persistent backdoor access through the executed malicious code. The vulnerability's presence in multiple IE versions from 8 through 11 means that legacy systems remain at risk even when newer browsers are deployed, creating complex security management challenges. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability means that denial of service attacks can be combined with exploitation attempts, creating multi-faceted threats that can disrupt business operations while simultaneously enabling data breaches. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007: "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and T1203: "Exploitation for Client Execution," highlighting the attack patterns that leverage browser-based exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, which address the underlying memory management flaws in the browser's rendering engine. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content. Network-level defenses such as intrusion detection systems can help detect exploitation attempts by monitoring for known malicious payload patterns. User education remains critical as the vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, making awareness training about suspicious web content essential. Additionally, implementing browser isolation techniques and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all systems prevents exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple IE versions underscores the importance of comprehensive patch management programs and the need for organizations to migrate away from legacy browser versions that no longer receive security updates.