CVE-2014-4096 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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-2014-4087, CVE-2014-4095, and CVE-2014-4101.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that enables remote code execution through malicious web content. The issue stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating exploitable conditions that allow attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability specifically affects the browser's JavaScript engine and memory management systems, where malformed input can trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that compromise system integrity.
The technical exploitation occurs when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web content that contains malformed JavaScript or HTML elements designed to trigger memory corruption. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious web pages that, when loaded in IE11, cause the browser to allocate or deallocate memory in unexpected ways. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, or alternatively cause a denial of service through application crashes and system instability. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser rendering engines and memory management systems, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where IE11 remains in use, as it can be exploited through drive-by downloads or compromised websites. The attack surface is extensive since any web content loaded through the browser can potentially trigger the vulnerability, making it difficult to defend against through traditional network perimeter security measures. Organizations running legacy systems or those unable to immediately patch may find themselves vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that leverage this memory corruption to establish persistent access or escalate privileges. The vulnerability's similarity to other IE memory corruption issues from the same timeframe indicates a broader pattern in the browser's architecture that required comprehensive security reviews.
Security mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, along with implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features and implementing strict content security policies. Network-based protections can help detect and block malicious web content, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious memory access patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the mitre ATT&CK framework under the 'Execution' and 'Persistence' tactics, particularly through the use of malicious web content to achieve remote code execution. This issue also relates to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in memory corruption vulnerabilities affecting web browsers and their underlying rendering engines.