CVE-2014-4143 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-2014-6341.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4143 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11, which enables remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability operates at the core level of the browser's memory management system, exploiting fundamental weaknesses in how Internet Explorer handles certain memory operations during web page rendering and script execution. The flaw specifically manifests when the browser processes malformed or specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory handling, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues, which are classified as CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The flaw occurs when Internet Explorer's rendering engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries during object manipulation, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations with malicious data. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through simple web browsing activities, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. The attack vector leverages the browser's JavaScript engine and HTML parsing capabilities to inject malicious code that manipulates memory structures in unintended ways, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on older Internet Explorer versions, as it affects a broad range of supported browsers spanning multiple generations. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially compromise entire enterprise networks, especially in environments where legacy systems remain operational. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious payloads that may include malware installation, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration operations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise without requiring physical access to the target machine.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including immediate patch deployment for all affected Internet Explorer versions, browser hardening configurations, and network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" when considering the potential for post-exploitation activities, though the initial exploitation mechanism is primarily through memory corruption rather than script-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and maintaining strict update policies to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future, as this flaw demonstrates the ongoing risks associated with legacy browser support and the importance of timely security patch management.