CVE-2014-4099 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 • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4099 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11. This vulnerability resides within the browser's rendering engine and exploits memory management issues that can be triggered through maliciously crafted web content. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions, making it a significant threat vector in enterprise and consumer environments. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during web page processing, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject and execute malicious code within the browser's memory space.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These classifications indicate that the flaw involves improper bounds checking during memory operations, allowing attackers to manipulate memory locations beyond their intended boundaries. The vulnerability operates through the browser's JavaScript engine and HTML parsing components, where crafted malicious content can trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. Attackers typically exploit this by hosting malicious web pages that, when loaded in Internet Explorer, cause the browser to allocate memory incorrectly or access memory that has already been freed, leading to potential code execution or system crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to organizations relying on older Internet Explorer versions, as it can be exploited through simple web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The attack surface is broad since Internet Explorer remains widely deployed in enterprise environments, particularly in legacy systems and government organizations that have not migrated to newer browser versions. The memory corruption aspect means that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary commands on target systems. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, where the malicious code execution allows for further lateral movement and persistence within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4099 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Internet Explorer versions, as Microsoft released security updates addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing enhanced security zones, and deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized code. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious web content targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, security awareness training for users to avoid visiting untrusted websites and keeping browsers updated remains crucial. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights the risks associated with running outdated software in enterprise environments, as older browser versions often lack modern security mitigations and are more susceptible to exploitation by advanced persistent threats.