CVE-2014-6341 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-2014-4143.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability arose from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically when processing crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code. The flaw manifested as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurred during the processing of certain web page elements, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-on user. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited through simple web navigation without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This issue represented a classic buffer overflow scenario where the browser failed to properly validate input data before writing to memory locations, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the browser's memory space. The vulnerability was classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though it more accurately described a heap-based memory corruption issue. From an operational perspective, this flaw made Internet Explorer users extremely vulnerable to drive-by download attacks, where simply visiting a compromised website could result in full system compromise. The attack vector was particularly insidious because it required no user interaction beyond normal web browsing, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns. The memory corruption occurred in the browser's JavaScript engine, specifically when handling certain object types and method calls that led to improper memory allocation and deallocation sequences. This vulnerability impacted all supported versions of Internet Explorer from version 6 through 11, representing a significant security gap that affected millions of users across different operating system platforms. The exploitability of this vulnerability was enhanced by the fact that it could be triggered through various means including embedded scripts, dynamic content generation, and even through legitimate websites that had been compromised by attackers. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability was part of a broader class of memory corruption issues that could be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks. The attack pattern aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Windows Scripting and T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could use the vulnerability to execute malicious scripts and commands on compromised systems. Organizations were advised to implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, network-based protections, and user education to reduce exposure to this threat. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper memory management practices in browser development and underscored the need for comprehensive security testing of rendering engines. Microsoft addressed this issue through security updates that corrected the memory handling routines and introduced additional validation checks to prevent the exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The incident demonstrated how seemingly minor memory management flaws could create significant security risks in widely used software applications, particularly those with extensive scripting capabilities like web browsers. This vulnerability served as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of regular security assessments for complex software systems. The exploitation of this flaw could result in complete system compromise, making it a high-priority vulnerability for security teams to address through both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements.