CVE-2014-0322
Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2014-0322 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability exists in how Internet Explorer handles certain objects in memory, where a freed memory object is subsequently accessed, enabling an attacker to corrupt memory and gain code execution. This Internet Explorer vulnerability has been actively exploited in targeted watering hole attacks, and CISA has added CVE-2014-0322 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of May 25, 2022. The EPSS percentile of approximately 99.8% places this among the most exploited browser vulnerabilities, reflecting the widespread availability and maturity of exploit code.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | internet explorer | 9; 10 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://community.websense.com/blogs/securitylabs/archive/2014/02/13/msie-0-day-exploit-cve-2014-0322-possibly-targeting-french-aerospace-organization.aspx(Broken Link, Permissions Required)
- http://technet.microsoft.com/security/advisory/2934088(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- http://twitter.com/nanoc0re/statuses/434251658344673281(Press/Media Coverage)
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/32851(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/32904(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.fireeye.com/blog/technical/cyber-exploits/2014/02/new-ie-zero-day-found-in-watering-hole-attack-2.html(Broken Link)
- http://www.fireeye.com/blog/uncategorized/2014/02/operation-snowman-deputydog-actor-compromises-us-veterans-of-foreign-wars-website.html(Broken Link)
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/732479(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
- http://www.osvdb.org/103354(Broken Link)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2014/ms14-012(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.dropbox.com/s/pyxjgycmudirbqe/CVE-2014-0322.zip(Broken Link, Exploit)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-0322(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-416: Use After Free
The use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer occurs when the browser accesses a memory object after it has been deallocated. In CVE-2014-0322, Internet Explorer improperly handles certain DOM objects or JavaScript operations, freeing an object from memory while retaining a dangling pointer that is later dereferenced, allowing an attacker to control the contents of the freed memory region and achieve arbitrary code execution.
Learn more: CWE-416 — Use After Free
Impact Analysis
CVE-2014-0322 represents a severe threat due to the remote code execution capability it provides through the network without requiring any authentication from the attacker. The vulnerability requires user interaction only in the form of visiting a malicious or compromised web page, making it ideal for watering hole and drive-by download attacks. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user, and when combined with privilege escalation vulnerabilities, can lead to complete system compromise. The EPSS percentile of approximately 99.8% indicates near-certain exploitation activity, placing this vulnerability at the absolute top of the exploitation probability spectrum. The use-after-free condition in Internet Explorer can compromise all aspects of system security: confidentiality through data theft, integrity through arbitrary code execution, and availability through system crashes or persistent compromise.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2014-0322 in the wild by including it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of May 25, 2022. The EPSS percentile of approximately 99.8% indicates near-certain exploitation activity, making this one of the most exploited Internet Explorer vulnerabilities ever documented. This use-after-free vulnerability was originally discovered being exploited in sophisticated watering hole attacks targeting specific organizations, and public exploit code has been widely available for years. The combination of reliable exploitation, mature tooling, and the large install base of legacy Internet Explorer systems makes CVE-2014-0322 a persistent threat for organizations that have not completed their migration away from Internet Explorer.
Remediation
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Apply Microsoft security updates immediately as directed by CISA: "Apply updates per vendor instructions." Install the Internet Explorer security patch that addresses the use-after-free vulnerability on all affected Windows systems still running Internet Explorer.
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Migrate away from Internet Explorer to a modern, supported browser such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer has reached end of life, and continued use exposes organizations to this and many other unpatched vulnerabilities.
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Disable Internet Explorer via Group Policy on systems where it cannot be immediately uninstalled. Use the "Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser" Group Policy setting to prevent users from launching IE, and redirect any legacy web applications that require IE to use IE mode in Microsoft Edge.
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Implement network-level protections including web content filtering, intrusion prevention system (IPS) signatures for known IE exploitation patterns, and DNS filtering to block access to domains associated with watering hole attacks that may target this vulnerability.
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Deploy Enhanced Protected Mode and EMET on systems where Internet Explorer must remain in use. Enable Enhanced Protected Mode in IE settings and deploy the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) to add exploit mitigation layers such as DEP, ASLR enforcement, and heap spray mitigations that can reduce the effectiveness of use-after-free exploits.
Technical Details
CVE-2014-0322 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Microsoft Internet Explorer that occurs when the browser frees a DOM object or internal data structure from memory but retains a dangling pointer that is subsequently dereferenced during page rendering or JavaScript execution. When a victim visits a specially crafted web page, the attacker triggers the free operation on the target object, then manipulates the heap to place controlled data at the freed memory location before Internet Explorer accesses the dangling pointer, effectively hijacking the program's execution flow. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network with no authentication required and only minimal user interaction in the form of navigating to the malicious page. This attack technique was notably used in targeted watering hole campaigns where legitimate websites were compromised to serve the exploit, demonstrating the reliability and effectiveness of use-after-free exploitation in Internet Explorer's rendering engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2014-0322 being actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2014-0322 is being actively exploited in the wild. CISA has added this vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of May 25, 2022. The EPSS percentile of approximately 99.8% confirms this is among the most exploited Internet Explorer vulnerabilities.
What products are affected by CVE-2014-0322?
CVE-2014-0322 affects Microsoft Internet Explorer. Multiple versions of Internet Explorer that were supported at the time of disclosure in 2014 are vulnerable. Any Windows system still running an unpatched version of Internet Explorer remains at risk.
How do I fix CVE-2014-0322?
Apply the Microsoft security update for Internet Explorer and migrate to a modern browser such as Microsoft Edge. If Internet Explorer must remain installed, disable it via Group Policy and use IE mode in Edge for legacy applications. Deploy network-level protections to block known exploitation patterns.
How severe is CVE-2014-0322?
CVE-2014-0322 is an extremely severe vulnerability with an EPSS percentile of approximately 99.8%, indicating near-certain exploitation. The use-after-free flaw enables remote code execution through malicious web pages, and it has been widely used in targeted watering hole attacks since its discovery in 2014.
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