CVE-2014-0286 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 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-2014-0275 and CVE-2014-0285.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0286 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of remote code execution exploits that have historically plagued web browsers, with this particular issue demonstrating the persistent challenges in securing complex browser software architectures. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious websites that can trigger arbitrary code execution on targeted systems or cause denial of service conditions through memory corruption mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests as a memory corruption vulnerability within the Internet Explorer rendering engine, specifically affecting how the browser handles certain web content structures. This type of vulnerability typically arises from improper input validation or memory management errors within the browser's JavaScript engine or HTML parser. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory addresses and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the browser, effectively providing a complete system compromise vector when successfully exploited.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on older Internet Explorer versions, particularly those running IE 6 through 11 in enterprise environments. The exploitability of this vulnerability means that users could be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios. The memory corruption aspect can also lead to browser crashes or system instability, creating potential denial of service conditions that may affect productivity and availability of critical systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common patterns in memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where the initial compromise leads to persistent access and command execution capabilities. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and consider implementing network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces, while also monitoring for indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability pattern.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches, implementation of browser hardening measures, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious content. Additionally, organizations should consider transitioning away from legacy Internet Explorer versions to modern browser alternatives that receive regular security updates and have more robust memory safety mechanisms. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual browser behavior, memory access patterns, and network connections that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing comprehensive security controls to protect against persistent threats targeting browser software vulnerabilities.