CVE-2014-4067 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 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-2014-2796, CVE-2014-2808, CVE-2014-2825, CVE-2014-4050, and CVE-2014-4055.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11 that enables remote code execution through malicious web content. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer processes certain web elements and objects in memory. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages that trigger buffer overflows or use after free conditions when the browser attempts to parse and render malicious content. This particular vulnerability operates through a different code path than several other contemporaneous IE flaws, making it a distinct threat vector that requires separate mitigation strategies.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging memory corruption primitives that allow attackers to manipulate heap memory structures and potentially overwrite critical function pointers or execute arbitrary code within the browser's memory space. When Internet Explorer encounters malformed or specially crafted web content, the browser's memory management routines fail to properly validate input data, leading to unpredictable memory states that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw typically manifests when processing complex web objects such as ActiveX controls, JavaScript objects, or DOM elements that trigger memory allocation and deallocation patterns susceptible to exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can lead to remote code execution in web browsers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, particularly in legacy systems that have not been migrated to newer browser versions. The remote code execution capability means that users can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website, without requiring any additional user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for targeted attacks and mass exploitation campaigns, as it can be delivered through various vectors including phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability further compounds the risk, as attackers can potentially crash the browser or system entirely, creating additional attack surfaces for disruption and data exfiltration operations. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer are particularly vulnerable since the browser's memory management mechanisms have inherent weaknesses that make them susceptible to exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft's security patches, which address the underlying memory corruption issues through improved input validation and memory management routines. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and using sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network-based mitigations including web application firewalls and proxy configurations can help filter malicious content before it reaches vulnerable browsers. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browser software updated. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's browser exploitation techniques. Organizations should also consider migrating away from Internet Explorer to more secure modern browsers that have better memory safety mechanisms and more frequent security updates, as the vulnerability landscape for older browser versions continues to evolve and expand.