CVE-2014-0283 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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 • 04/13/2025
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 suffered from a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through specially crafted web content. This vulnerability stemmed from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Internet Explorer processed certain web elements and allocated memory resources. The flaw existed in the way the browser managed memory during web page rendering, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory addresses and execute unauthorized commands. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be triggered through normal web browsing activities, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios where users might visit compromised websites or be directed to malicious content through social engineering tactics. The memory corruption occurred when Internet Explorer attempted to process malformed or specially constructed web elements, leading to unpredictable behavior that could be leveraged for code execution. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common patterns in memory corruption exploits. The attack surface was extensive given Internet Explorer 9's widespread adoption in enterprise and consumer environments, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise systems through web-based attacks. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites that loaded malicious JavaScript or ActiveX components. From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems. The vulnerability also posed significant risks to enterprise networks where multiple users might be simultaneously exposed to the same malicious content, potentially leading to widespread compromise. Organizations using Internet Explorer 9 were particularly vulnerable as the browser lacked modern security mitigations that would have prevented or limited the exploitation of such memory corruption flaws. The attack could be executed with minimal user interaction, often requiring only that a user visit a malicious website, which made it especially dangerous for organizations with less security-aware users. This vulnerability exemplifies the broader category of browser-based exploits that leverage memory corruption flaws to achieve arbitrary code execution, aligning with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter. The exploitation process typically involved crafting specific web content that would trigger the memory corruption when rendered by Internet Explorer 9, often through the use of JavaScript or ActiveX controls that manipulated memory addresses in unintended ways. Organizations needed to implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, security patches, and network-based protections to defend against this vulnerability. The incident highlighted the critical importance of keeping browser software up to date and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits that target widely used software components. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates that corrected the memory handling mechanisms within Internet Explorer 9, though many organizations had to implement additional security measures to protect their environments from exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscored the need for better memory safety practices in software development, particularly in browsers that handle untrusted content from multiple sources. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability influenced subsequent security research and led to improved browser security features including address space layout randomization and other memory protection techniques that became standard in modern browser implementations. Organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability remained at significant risk of compromise, as the exploit was widely available in malicious code repositories and commonly used in targeted attacks against enterprise networks. The vulnerability demonstrated how seemingly minor memory handling issues in widely deployed software could result in severe security consequences when combined with social engineering or other attack vectors. This particular flaw served as a reminder of the importance of comprehensive security testing and the need for robust memory safety practices in software development, particularly for applications that process untrusted input from network sources. The exploitation of this vulnerability contributed to the broader trend of browser-based attacks that eventually led to the development of more secure browser architectures and execution models designed to prevent similar memory corruption issues from occurring in modern web browsers.