CVE-2014-6368 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 allows remote attackers to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via a crafted web site, aka "Internet Explorer ASLR Bypass Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2022
The CVE-2014-6368 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that specifically targets the Address Space Layout Randomization protection mechanism. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to circumvent one of the primary defense mechanisms designed to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw manifests when users visit malicious websites that are specifically crafted to exploit the ASLR bypass, allowing attackers to predict memory layout patterns that should otherwise be randomized. This represents a fundamental failure in the browser's security architecture and significantly undermines the effectiveness of modern exploit mitigation techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because ASLR is a cornerstone of modern operating system security, and its bypass can enable more sophisticated attacks that would otherwise be prevented by this protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory layout information within Internet Explorer 11's memory management system. When processing certain web content, the browser fails to properly randomize memory addresses for critical components, particularly those related to heap management and code execution areas. This flaw allows attackers to gather information about memory layout through side-channel attacks or predictable behavior patterns that should have been randomized. The vulnerability specifically affects how the browser handles dynamic memory allocation and code segment placement, creating predictable memory addresses that can be used to craft successful exploits. This weakness aligns with CWE-122, which describes improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, and demonstrates how memory management flaws can directly impact security mechanisms like ASLR. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including JavaScript execution and memory corruption techniques that leverage the predictable memory layout.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally weakens the security posture of systems running Internet Explorer 11. Attackers can use this bypass to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the browser, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may visit untrusted websites or receive malicious emails containing links to compromised sites. Security researchers have documented cases where this vulnerability was used in targeted attacks against government agencies and critical infrastructure organizations. The exploitation of this vulnerability can also enable attackers to bypass other security controls such as DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and stack canaries, making it a particularly dangerous primitive for advanced persistent threats. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script-based execution and T1068 for local privilege escalation, demonstrating the multi-layered attack surface this flaw creates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6368 require immediate action from organizations to protect their systems from exploitation. Microsoft released security updates that addressed the underlying memory management issues in Internet Explorer 11, but organizations should also implement additional protective measures such as enabling Enhanced Protection Mode in Internet Explorer, deploying application whitelisting policies, and using network-based security controls like firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening techniques including disabling unnecessary browser features, using sandboxing technologies, and regularly monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping browser software updated and demonstrates why organizations should maintain robust patch management processes. Security teams should also implement monitoring for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual memory access patterns and unexpected code execution attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation of this vulnerability in production environments.