CVE-2014-4104 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-2014-4100, CVE-2014-4103, 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4104 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer spanning versions 6 through 11. This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution exploits that can be triggered through maliciously crafted web content, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios. The flaw specifically manifests when Internet Explorer processes certain malformed data structures in memory, leading to unpredictable behavior that attackers can leverage to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions.
From a technical perspective, this memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within Internet Explorer's rendering engine. The flaw occurs when the browser encounters specially crafted web pages that contain malformed objects or structures that trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors. These conditions create opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory pointers and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the browser. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities, both of which are common vectors for memory corruption exploits.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4104 extends beyond simple exploitation capabilities to encompass significant security risks for enterprise environments. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer face potential compromise of user sessions, data exfiltration, and system persistence mechanisms that attackers can establish through successful exploitation. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements without requiring local system access. This characteristic places it firmly within the ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Execution and Persistence, where adversaries leverage browser vulnerabilities to establish footholds in target networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment from Microsoft, as the primary defense against exploitation. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and deploying sandboxing mechanisms to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and suspicious email attachments, as social engineering remains a common initial vector for delivering exploit payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered defensive strategies to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks that can bypass traditional security controls.