CVE-2014-4105 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-2014-4104, 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 affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11, classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability arises from improper memory handling when processing crafted web content, specifically involving the browser's JavaScript engine and memory management subsystems. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web content that triggers memory corruption during normal browsing operations, potentially allowing remote code execution or system crashes.
The technical exploitation involves leveraging memory corruption vulnerabilities within Internet Explorer's rendering engine, where specially crafted web pages can manipulate memory pointers or buffer boundaries to execute malicious instructions. This particular vulnerability operates at a low level within the browser's memory management, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security mechanisms. The flaw affects multiple versions of IE, indicating a widespread issue that persisted across the browser's lifecycle, with attackers able to craft payloads that exploit the memory corruption through various attack vectors including JavaScript execution, HTML parsing, and object manipulation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant 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 impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially enable broader network infiltration, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework places it within the privilege escalation and execution domains, where adversaries can leverage memory corruption to gain elevated privileges or execute malicious code directly on target systems.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Internet Explorer versions, as Microsoft released security updates addressing this specific memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content filtering, and deploying enhanced security configurations. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts, while user education regarding safe browsing practices remains crucial. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple IE versions underscores the importance of comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include regular security assessments and timely patch deployment to prevent exploitation of similar memory corruption flaws in other browser components or applications.