CVE-2014-4058 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering processes, creating opportunities for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code that triggers heap corruption, allowing malicious actors to overwrite critical memory segments and potentially gain full system control. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level memory management functions, specifically within the browser's memory allocator and object handling mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security restrictions and execute code with the privileges of the current user.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting web pages that trigger specific memory allocation patterns leading to heap corruption conditions. Attackers can manipulate memory pointers and object references to cause buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that result in code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-476, null pointer dereference, representing common memory safety issues in software applications. The attack surface is extensive since Internet Explorer processes a wide variety of web content types including JavaScript, ActiveX controls, and embedded objects that can be manipulated to trigger the memory corruption. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web servers that serve the malicious content to unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4058 extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential system compromise, data theft, and persistent backdoor installation. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to install malware, modify system files, access sensitive data, and maintain persistent access to compromised systems. The memory corruption nature makes detection difficult since the exploitation may not immediately manifest as a crash or obvious error, instead allowing for stealthy execution over extended periods. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering attacks, drive-by downloads, or compromised websites without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, command and script interpreter, and T1068, exploit for privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the initial compromise to gain elevated privileges and expand their access within the network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the official fix addresses the underlying memory management flaws in Internet Explorer's rendering engine. Organizations should implement network-level protections including web application firewalls, content filtering systems, and browser security policies that restrict potentially dangerous content types. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary ActiveX controls, restricting JavaScript execution, and enabling enhanced security features like Internet Explorer's protected mode and smart screen filter. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should focus on identifying potentially vulnerable web applications or services that might expose users to malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce the attack surface available to threat actors, as the exploitation requires minimal user interaction and can be automated at scale.