CVE-2014-4130 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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-2014-4132 and CVE-2014-4138.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from other related flaws such as CVE-2014-4132 and CVE-2014-4138, indicating a separate code path or memory handling mechanism within the browser's rendering engine. The flaw occurs when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web pages that trigger improper memory management during content rendering, leading to potential code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and HTML parser. When processing malformed web content, the browser fails to properly validate memory allocations or handle pointer references, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed payloads. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflow conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing for code injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects all versions of Internet Explorer 11 that were released prior to the security patch, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy browser versions may still be in use. Organizations running affected systems face significant risk of data breaches, malware deployment, and persistent access to their networks through this memory corruption vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Microsoft's security patches and updates to prevent exploitation. System administrators should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and configuring sandboxing mechanisms to limit potential damage from successful exploits. Network security controls including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious web traffic patterns associated with known exploit signatures. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the technique of "Exploitation for Client Execution" where adversaries leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability through phishing campaigns or malicious website visits.