CVE-2014-4145 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-2014-2810, CVE-2014-2811, CVE-2014-2822, CVE-2014-2823, CVE-2014-4057, and CVE-2014-8985.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that enables remote code execution through malicious web content. The issue stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer processes certain web elements. Attackers can craft malicious websites that trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions in memory management routines, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. The vulnerability specifically affects Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, and Windows 8.1 operating systems. This flaw falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be classified as a heap-based buffer overflow when exploited through memory corruption mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered automatically through web browsing without any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of web content, particularly in JavaScript engine components or HTML parsing routines where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems. The attack surface is extensive as it affects all versions of Internet Explorer 11 that were released prior to the patch, including those running on both desktop and server operating systems. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based attack vectors. Organizations using Internet Explorer 11 are particularly vulnerable because the browser remains widely deployed in enterprise environments, and many systems have not been updated to receive the relevant security patches. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special privileges beyond basic web browsing capabilities, making it accessible to threat actors of varying skill levels. Microsoft released a security update in August 2014 that addressed this issue through improved memory management and bounds checking mechanisms. The patch modifies how Internet Explorer handles memory allocation and deallocation, particularly in JavaScript engine components that are frequently targeted by attackers. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges with memory safety in complex browser implementations, where decades of accumulated code and legacy compatibility requirements create numerous potential attack vectors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including browser isolation techniques, network-based filtering, and user education about avoiding untrusted websites. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive browser security policies that restrict access to potentially malicious web content. This flaw underscores the critical need for organizations to maintain robust security hygiene practices and to ensure that all systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The widespread deployment of Internet Explorer 11 across enterprise environments made this vulnerability particularly impactful, as it provided attackers with a reliable vector for compromising large numbers of systems simultaneously. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat modeling efforts, particularly when assessing risks associated with legacy browser support and outdated software environments that remain in production use.