CVE-2014-6345 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 and 10 allows remote attackers to read content from a different (1) domain or (2) zone via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer Cross-domain Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-domain information disclosure flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 and 10 that fundamentally undermines the browser's security model. The issue stems from improper handling of cross-domain requests within the browser's security architecture, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer manages access controls between different security zones and domains. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass security boundaries that should normally prevent one domain from accessing content or data from another domain, creating a significant breach in the browser's sandboxed execution environment. This weakness operates at the core of web browser security protocols and directly violates the fundamental principle of same-origin policy enforcement that modern browsers implement to protect user data and prevent unauthorized information access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how Internet Explorer processes cross-domain requests, particularly when handling specific combinations of domain names and security zone configurations. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that exploit this weakness to read content from different domains or security zones that should normally be isolated from each other. The exploitation mechanism typically involves leveraging specific URL patterns or cross-domain communication methods that allow the browser to inadvertently grant access to resources that should remain protected. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and specifically aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1071.001 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it exploits web browser security mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. An attacker could potentially access sensitive information from banking, email, or corporate domains that users might have authenticated to while browsing, leading to unauthorized access to personal accounts or confidential business data. The vulnerability affects users across multiple threat vectors since Internet Explorer 9 and 10 were widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, making the attack surface particularly large. Organizations running these older browser versions faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, phishing campaigns, or compromised web applications that users might visit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate action including applying Microsoft security patches and updates, implementing browser security policies, and deploying network-based protections. Organizations needed to ensure their Internet Explorer installations were updated to versions that addressed the specific cross-domain access control flaw. Additional defensive measures included implementing content security policies, configuring security zone settings, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious cross-domain requests. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing layered security approaches to protect against similar issues. Security professionals should have also monitored for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implemented network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurred. This vulnerability underscored the critical need for proper browser security model implementation and the importance of regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar cross-domain access control weaknesses that could compromise user privacy and data security.