CVE-2014-0269 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 10 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."
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0269 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 10, categorized under CWE-125 as out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer processes certain web content structures. The flaw manifests when the browser encounters maliciously crafted web pages that exploit memory management weaknesses in the JavaScript engine or HTML parser, creating opportunities for attackers to inject and execute malicious code remotely.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully constructed web content that triggers buffer overflows or memory corruption during normal browsing operations. Attackers can craft web pages containing malformed data structures that, when rendered by the affected Internet Explorer versions, cause the browser to allocate insufficient memory for processing certain elements or to access memory locations beyond their allocated boundaries. This memory corruption can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or more critically, the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple web navigation without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0269 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise capabilities that align with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious payloads that can establish persistence mechanisms, exfiltrate data, or deploy additional malware components. The widespread adoption of Internet Explorer across enterprise environments made this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it could be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to corporate networks through targeted phishing campaigns or drive-by downloads from compromised websites. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer faced significant risk of data breaches and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0269 required immediate implementation of security patches provided by Microsoft through their regular security updates, specifically addressing the memory corruption issues in the affected browser versions. Organizations should have implemented browser isolation techniques, deployed web application firewalls, and restricted access to potentially malicious websites through content filtering solutions. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing technologies to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs became crucial in helping personnel recognize and avoid potentially malicious websites that could exploit this vulnerability.