CVE-2014-0276 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and 9 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0276 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 8 and 9 that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer processes certain web content structures. The flaw exists in the way the browser manages memory when parsing and rendering web pages, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit memory management inconsistencies.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in memory management, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to memory corruption. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger buffer overflows or use after free conditions within Internet Explorer's memory management subsystem, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. The vulnerability specifically impacts the browser's JavaScript engine and HTML parser components, where memory corruption occurs during object handling and memory deallocation processes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer 8 and 9 remain in use, as these older browser versions are still prevalent in legacy systems and restricted environments. The attack vector requires users to visit malicious websites, making social engineering a critical component of exploitation strategies. The memory corruption can manifest as browser crashes, application instability, or complete system compromise depending on the execution context and attack payload sophistication. Organizations running these vulnerable browser versions face potential data breaches, system takeovers, and persistent backdoor installations that can persist across system reboots.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates to patched versions, deployment of Microsoft's security patches, and implementation of network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and highlights the risks associated with legacy browser support in enterprise environments. Organizations should consider implementing browser hardening techniques and restricting access to potentially malicious websites through security policies and network segmentation to reduce attack surface exposure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through memory corruption techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive endpoint protection and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other browser components and operating system services.