CVE-2014-4059 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-2014-2799, CVE-2014-4065, CVE-2014-4079, CVE-2014-4081, CVE-2014-4083, CVE-2014-4085, CVE-2014-4088, CVE-2014-4090, CVE-2014-4094, CVE-2014-4097, CVE-2014-4100, CVE-2014-4103, CVE-2014-4104, CVE-2014-4105, CVE-2014-4106, CVE-2014-4107, CVE-2014-4108, CVE-2014-4109, CVE-2014-4110, and CVE-2014-4111.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4059 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11, exposing users to significant security risks including remote code execution and denial of service conditions. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of crafted web content, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw operates through a sophisticated exploitation vector that leverages memory corruption techniques to bypass standard security mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Internet Explorer's rendering engine, particularly when processing malformed or specially crafted web content. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions when the browser attempts to render them. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and rendering of web elements, where the browser fails to properly validate input data before allocating memory for processing, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the targeted user.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4059 extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios to encompass broad security implications for enterprise environments and individual users alike. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The denial of service component of this vulnerability can be equally damaging, as it can cause browsers to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting normal business operations and user productivity. Organizations running older versions of Internet Explorer face particular risk since these legacy browsers lack modern security mitigations and are no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft, making them prime targets for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4059 must address both immediate defensive measures and long-term remediation approaches. The most effective immediate solution involves deploying Microsoft security updates and patches as soon as they become available, though this becomes increasingly difficult for legacy versions of Internet Explorer that are no longer supported. Organizations should implement network-based security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains. Browser isolation techniques and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional protection layers, though these approaches may impact user experience and system performance. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence feeds and implementing comprehensive security monitoring to detect exploitation attempts. Given the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities, implementing exploit prevention technologies such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention can significantly reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability through phishing campaigns or malicious email attachments.