CVE-2014-4082 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 10 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 • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4082 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 10. This vulnerability resides within the browser's handling of memory operations during web page rendering, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage to achieve remote code execution or system disruption. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory management, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system compromise. Security researchers have classified this issue under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's impact spans multiple generations of Internet Explorer, making it particularly concerning for organizations with legacy systems that may not have received timely security updates. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in a vulnerable browser, triggers the memory corruption through improper handling of objects in memory, potentially allowing them to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the browser.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2014-4082 involves manipulating memory structures within Internet Explorer's rendering engine to cause buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. When a user visits a malicious website, the browser's JavaScript engine or rendering components process the crafted content in a way that leads to memory corruption, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or inject malicious code into the browser process. This type of vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw operates at the intersection of browser security and memory management, where improper input validation and insufficient bounds checking in Internet Explorer's core components create opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires user interaction through visiting a malicious webpage, making it a prime candidate for phishing attacks or drive-by downloads that leverage the browser's automatic execution of web content to deliver malicious payloads.
Organizations affected by CVE-2014-4082 face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and service disruption. The vulnerability's ability to cause denial of service alongside remote code execution creates multiple attack vectors that threat actors can exploit based on their objectives. Systems running unsupported versions of Internet Explorer, particularly those that have not received security patches, remain highly vulnerable to this flaw. The memory corruption nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation can result in system crashes, data loss, or complete system compromise, depending on the attacker's objectives and the specific memory locations targeted. Security teams must understand that this vulnerability represents a persistent risk in environments where legacy browser support is maintained, as these systems often lack the modern security features and patch management processes that protect against such memory-based attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur without user interaction in some scenarios, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have limited security awareness or where automated attacks are employed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4082 require comprehensive security measures that address both immediate protection and long-term system hardening. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches that address this specific vulnerability, as these patches correct the memory handling issues within Internet Explorer's rendering engine. System administrators should implement browser security policies that restrict access to potentially malicious websites and enable security features such as protected view mode, which limits the execution of potentially dangerous content. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The implementation of the principle of least privilege and user account control measures can limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts, as attackers would need elevated privileges to fully compromise systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing browser sandboxing technologies and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in legacy browser installations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining current security patches and avoiding prolonged use of unsupported software versions that lack security updates and modern protection mechanisms.