CVE-2014-2827 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-2014-2774, CVE-2014-2820, CVE-2014-2826, and CVE-2014-4063.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer spanning versions 6 through 11, classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management during web page rendering processes, specifically when handling malformed or crafted web content that triggers buffer overflow conditions within the browser's memory allocation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when rendered by the affected browser versions, causes unpredictable memory corruption leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability operates at the core level of browser memory management where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory addresses and overwrite critical system structures.
The technical exploitation involves crafting web pages containing specifically formatted data structures that, when processed by Internet Explorer's rendering engine, cause memory corruption through improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on victim systems. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of web content, particularly when dealing with complex HTML elements, JavaScript execution contexts, or embedded objects that trigger memory management errors. The flaw demonstrates a classic buffer overflow pattern where attacker-controlled data exceeds allocated memory boundaries, potentially allowing for code injection attacks that can bypass modern security mitigations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include full system compromise capabilities. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The widespread adoption of Internet Explorer across enterprise environments amplifies the risk, as organizations with legacy systems running IE6 through IE11 face significant exposure. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple browser versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the memory management subsystem that affects a large user base. Security researchers have documented that exploitation typically requires user interaction through visiting malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios where social engineering can be combined with the technical exploit.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate browser updates and security patches provided by Microsoft, as well as implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions. Organizations should consider deploying browser isolation technologies and implementing strict security policies that limit user access to potentially malicious content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and demonstrates how legacy browser support can create persistent security risks. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious web traffic patterns and implement security controls that can detect and block exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should specifically target outdated browser installations, as the vulnerability's exploitation potential remains significant for unpatched systems. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and clicking on suspicious links that could trigger such memory corruption exploits.