CVE-2014-2817
Microsoft Internet Explorer Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2014-2817 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer that allows remote attackers to gain elevated privileges through a specially crafted website. By luring a user to a malicious web page, an attacker can exploit this flaw to execute actions with higher privileges than normally permitted by the browser's security model. CISA has added CVE-2014-2817 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. The EPSS percentile of 96.2% indicates this vulnerability is among the most frequently targeted by attackers.
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 | 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11 |
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://www.securityfocus.com/bid/69092(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1030715(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2014/ms14-051(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-2817(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
Since no specific CWE has been assigned to CVE-2014-2817, the underlying weakness type remains unspecified. The vulnerability involves a privilege escalation mechanism in Internet Explorer triggered by crafted web content, enabling attackers to bypass the browser's intended security boundaries. This type of flaw typically results from improper access control or insufficient validation of security context transitions during page processing.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2014-2817 is remotely exploitable through the network, requiring no authentication on the part of the attacker, although user interaction is necessary as the victim must navigate to a crafted web page. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to gain elevated privileges on the target system, potentially enabling unauthorized data access, malware installation, and persistent system compromise. The privilege escalation means the attacker can escape Internet Explorer's security restrictions and perform operations at the privilege level of the logged-in user, which on many enterprise systems may include administrative access. The EPSS percentile of 96.2% confirms that CVE-2014-2817 is a high-priority vulnerability with demonstrated exploitation activity in real-world environments.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2014-2817 by including it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of June 15, 2022. The EPSS percentile of 96.2% indicates this vulnerability ranks in the top 4% of all CVEs in terms of exploitation likelihood. Internet Explorer privilege escalation vulnerabilities have been commonly leveraged in both targeted attacks and broad exploit campaigns, as they provide a reliable path from web-based initial access to elevated system privileges.
Remediation
- Apply all available security updates from Microsoft for Internet Explorer as specified in the vendor advisory. CISA's required action is to apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Migrate away from Internet Explorer entirely, as Microsoft has officially ended support. Transition to a modern, supported browser such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.
- If Internet Explorer must be used temporarily, apply Enhanced Protected Mode and restrict browsing to trusted internal sites only via group policy or proxy configurations.
- Deploy web content filtering and intrusion prevention systems at the network perimeter to detect and block exploit attempts targeting Internet Explorer.
- Enforce the principle of least privilege on all endpoints, ensuring users do not operate with administrative rights, which reduces the impact of browser-based privilege escalation attacks.
Technical Details
CVE-2014-2817 exploits an unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer that enables a remote attacker to escalate privileges via a crafted website. The attack requires the victim to navigate to a malicious or compromised web page, where the browser processes content that triggers the privilege escalation. The flaw resides in how Internet Explorer handles certain operations during page rendering or script execution, allowing the attacker to transition from the restricted browser security context to a higher privilege level. No specific CWE was assigned, leaving the precise technical mechanism partially undisclosed, but the behavior is consistent with improper access control vulnerabilities that allow security boundary crossings during complex browser operations. Successful exploitation grants the attacker code execution capabilities at the privilege level of the current user, which can lead to full system compromise when combined with standard post-exploitation techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2014-2817 being actively exploited?
Yes, CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2014-2817 and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. The EPSS percentile of 96.2% further confirms high exploitation activity. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer should treat remediation as an urgent priority.
What products are affected by CVE-2014-2817?
CVE-2014-2817 affects Microsoft Internet Explorer. While specific version ranges are not detailed in the available data, the vulnerability was addressed in Microsoft security updates released in 2014. All Internet Explorer versions current at the time of disclosure should be considered potentially vulnerable.
How do I fix CVE-2014-2817?
Apply all available Microsoft security updates for Internet Explorer. More importantly, migrate away from Internet Explorer entirely since it has reached end of life. Transitioning to a modern browser eliminates this and many other unpatched vulnerabilities.
How severe is CVE-2014-2817?
CVE-2014-2817 is a privilege escalation vulnerability with an EPSS percentile of 96.2%, placing it among the most likely-to-be-exploited CVEs. CISA's inclusion of this vulnerability in the KEV catalog confirms real-world exploitation. The ability to escalate privileges through a crafted website makes it a significant security risk for any environment still using Internet Explorer.
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