CVE-2014-0277 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0278 and CVE-2014-0279.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2025
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, creating a pathway for attackers to inject and execute malicious code on vulnerable systems. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code that triggers improper memory management operations, leading to buffer overflows or heap corruption that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory corruption categories that are commonly classified as CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, or CWE-122, stack-based buffer overflow, depending on the specific memory access pattern exploited. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no privileged access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise and persistent access to affected systems. The memory corruption occurs during the browser's parsing and rendering of web content, specifically when processing elements that trigger improper memory allocation or deallocation sequences.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Internet Explorer 8 for business operations, as it allows for remote code execution without user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack surface is broad since any web content rendered by IE8 could potentially be exploited, making it particularly dangerous in corporate environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites. The vulnerability also poses challenges for security teams as it can be difficult to detect through standard network monitoring since the exploitation occurs within the browser's memory space rather than through network protocols. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, as well as implementing browser isolation techniques and network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains and content. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute commands on compromised systems. Additionally, organizations should implement user education programs to avoid visiting suspicious websites and maintain up-to-date security software to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping legacy browser versions updated and highlights the risks associated with continued use of unsupported software versions in enterprise environments.