CVE-2014-4123 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 through 11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," as exploited in the wild in October 2014, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-4124.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 through 11 contained a critical elevation of privilege vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges. This vulnerability specifically exploited weaknesses in how Internet Explorer handled certain memory operations during web page rendering, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass security restrictions and escalate their privileges from standard user level to administrative rights. The flaw was actively exploited in the wild during October 2014, demonstrating its severity and the immediate threat it posed to enterprise environments. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, specifically focusing on improper privilege management during application execution. The attack vector involved crafting malicious web content that would trigger the vulnerability when rendered by the affected browser versions, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from improper handling of memory management within Internet Explorer's rendering engine. When processing certain web content, the browser failed to properly validate memory access patterns, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework category of privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities, specifically mapping to T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." The flaw was particularly dangerous because it required no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it an ideal candidate for drive-by download attacks. Attackers could craft web pages that would automatically exploit this vulnerability when opened in the affected browser versions, regardless of the user's security awareness or browser security settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended far beyond individual user compromise, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system takeover and persistent access within enterprise networks. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions faced significant risk of lateral movement attacks, where compromised systems could be used as launch points for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability's exploitation required no sophisticated techniques or specialized tools, making it accessible to threat actors of varying skill levels and increasing the overall threat landscape. Security professionals noted that the vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected multiple versions of Internet Explorer simultaneously, requiring organizations to urgently patch or isolate affected systems. The attack's ability to bypass standard security controls and execute code with elevated privileges created a significant challenge for incident response teams, as compromised systems could be used to maintain persistent access and exfiltrate sensitive data.
Organizations should have implemented immediate mitigation strategies including deploying Microsoft security updates, implementing browser hardening measures, and restricting access to potentially malicious websites through network filtering solutions. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrated the critical nature of vulnerability management programs. Security teams recommended implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and deploying additional monitoring solutions to detect anomalous privilege escalation activities. The incident underscored the need for comprehensive security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious websites and the importance of maintaining multiple layers of defense. Organizations should have also considered implementing browser isolation technologies and web application firewalls to provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future. This vulnerability served as a catalyst for improved security practices and emphasized the critical importance of rapid response to newly discovered security flaws in widely used software applications.