CVE-2014-0290 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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-2014-0267 and CVE-2014-0289.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0290 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of memory management during web page rendering processes, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit memory corruption issues that could lead to arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The flaw operates at a fundamental level within the browser's memory management subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling during the processing of web content, where Internet Explorer fails to properly validate or sanitize memory operations when rendering certain web elements. This memory corruption occurs during the browser's JavaScript engine execution or object model handling, allowing attackers to manipulate memory addresses and potentially overwrite critical system data structures. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787 as "Out-of-bounds Write," indicating the presence of memory access violations that can be exploited to execute malicious code. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflow conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for enterprise environments where Internet Explorer 11 is widely deployed, as it can be exploited through drive-by downloads or malicious websites that users might inadvertently visit. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can compromise systems without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond browsing to malicious sites. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer face potential data breaches, system compromise, and lateral movement opportunities for attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability. The denial of service aspect of the vulnerability can also be leveraged to disrupt business operations through persistent service interruption attacks.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including immediate deployment of Microsoft's security patches and updates, browser hardening configurations, and network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 as "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1059 as "Command and Scripting Interpreter," indicating the exploitation techniques that threat actors might employ to leverage this flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation technologies, mandatory access controls, and comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure all systems remain protected against this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to avoid potential compatibility issues with existing applications and services.