CVE-2014-4100 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-2014-4059, 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-2014-4103, 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 • 12/22/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer spanning versions 6 through 11, exploiting a fundamental weakness in the browser's handling of memory allocation and management during web page rendering. The vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows and use-after-free conditions that occur when the browser processes malformed or specially crafted web content. Attackers can leverage this weakness by hosting malicious web pages that trigger specific memory operations leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The flaw specifically manifests when Internet Explorer attempts to manage memory for dynamic content, particularly involving JavaScript objects, DOM manipulation, and memory cleanup processes that are not properly validated or sanitized.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2014-4100 involves crafting web content that forces Internet Explorer into executing memory operations beyond allocated boundaries or accessing freed memory locations. This typically occurs through complex interactions between JavaScript engine components and the browser's memory management subsystems, where improper bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite critical memory structures or inject malicious code into the browser's execution context. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-416 Use After Free, both of which are well-documented in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog and frequently targeted by advanced persistent threat actors. The memory corruption can be triggered through various attack vectors including malformed HTML elements, JavaScript arrays, or object manipulation sequences that cause the browser to allocate or deallocate memory in unexpected ways.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, particularly affecting organizations running legacy systems or those unable to immediately deploy patches. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can compromise systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites, making this vector particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially enable full system compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms within the compromised browser environment. Organizations utilizing Internet Explorer for business-critical applications face significant exposure, as this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack chains including social engineering, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements that leverage the browser's memory corruption to establish persistent backdoors.
Security mitigations for CVE-2014-4100 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, which address the underlying memory management flaws in the browser's JavaScript engine and memory allocation routines. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and deploying sandboxing technologies to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious web content targeting this vulnerability, while user education and awareness programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and suspicious web content. Additionally, implementing the principle of least privilege and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all systems remains crucial, as the vulnerability affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer and requires comprehensive remediation strategies that address both current and legacy browser installations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting its role in initial access and execution phases of cyberattack campaigns.