CVE-2014-0299 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-2014-0305 and CVE-2014-0311.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through malicious web content. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations during web page rendering, specifically when processing certain HTML elements or JavaScript code. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages that trigger memory corruption conditions when viewed in affected IE versions, leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple versions of Internet Explorer, spanning over a decade of releases, making it a widespread concern for organizations with legacy systems. This vulnerability aligns with 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 vulnerabilities. The attack vector leverages the browser's rendering engine to manipulate memory structures in ways that bypass standard security mechanisms, creating a persistent threat that can be exploited through web-based attacks. The vulnerability's classification under the broader ATT&CK framework places it within the T1203 technique category for Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage vulnerabilities in web browsers to execute malicious code on target systems. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of malformed web content, where IE's JavaScript engine or HTML parser fails to properly validate input data before allocating or accessing memory regions. This flaw demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex browser architectures that must handle diverse web standards while maintaining security boundaries. The impact extends beyond simple exploitation to include potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can gain elevated system access through successful exploitation of this vulnerability.
The technical implementation of this memory corruption vulnerability involves the browser's failure to properly validate memory allocation and access patterns when processing crafted web content. When Internet Explorer encounters maliciously constructed HTML or JavaScript elements, the rendering engine's memory management functions can be manipulated to overwrite memory locations or access unauthorized memory regions. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the browser's parser or interpreter does not adequately check bounds before performing memory operations, allowing attackers to inject malicious data that triggers unintended memory behavior. The specific conditions that trigger this vulnerability involve the interaction between different components within IE's architecture, particularly the JavaScript engine and the HTML rendering pipeline. Attackers exploit this by creating web pages that contain malformed elements designed to cause buffer overflows or heap corruption during parsing. The vulnerability's persistence across IE versions 6 through 11 indicates a fundamental flaw in the browser's memory management implementation that was not adequately addressed through multiple updates. This cross-version impact suggests that the underlying architectural issue affected core components that remained consistent across the supported IE lifecycle, making it particularly challenging to remediate without significant architectural changes. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it highly dangerous for enterprise environments where users may encounter such content through phishing campaigns or compromised websites. The memory corruption can manifest as stack overflows, heap corruption, or other memory management failures that ultimately lead to code execution or system instability. The attack's effectiveness is enhanced by the fact that IE's security features, including memory protection mechanisms, are bypassed through the specific nature of the memory corruption pattern.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant operational risks that extend beyond immediate security concerns to include business continuity and compliance challenges. The widespread nature of affected IE versions means that many enterprises with legacy systems remain vulnerable, particularly those that have not fully migrated to modern browser platforms or have delayed security updates. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access to systems, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and broader compromise of enterprise infrastructure. Security teams must consider the impact on their defensive strategies, as this vulnerability demonstrates the limitations of traditional browser security measures when dealing with complex memory corruption flaws. The vulnerability's exploitation can occur through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, compromised websites, and social engineering campaigns that leverage the browser's widespread use. Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include browser hardening, network-based protections, and user education to reduce exposure to this threat. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the ATT&CK framework's T1059 category for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries leverage browser-based attack chains to execute malicious commands. The operational impact includes potential system downtime, data loss, and increased security monitoring requirements. Organizations must also consider the regulatory implications of this vulnerability, particularly in environments subject to compliance frameworks that require robust security controls and incident response capabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical sophistication from attackers, making it accessible to threat actors across different skill levels and potentially increasing the frequency of exploitation attempts. Security operations centers need to develop specific detection capabilities for identifying exploitation attempts and monitoring for anomalous browser behavior that might indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation attempts. The most effective approach involves immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches that address the specific memory corruption patterns identified in the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement browser hardening configurations that disable or restrict potentially dangerous browser features and plugins that could be leveraged in exploitation attempts. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help detect and block malicious web content before it reaches user systems. Security teams should establish monitoring protocols specifically designed to detect anomalous browser behavior or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. User education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious websites and maintaining current security software updates. The implementation of sandboxing technologies and browser isolation solutions can provide additional protection layers that limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing progressive browser migration strategies that encourage users to transition to more secure modern browser platforms that have better security track records. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of browser-based attack surfaces to identify potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple IE versions suggests that organizations should establish comprehensive patch management processes that ensure all affected systems receive timely security updates. Security monitoring should include specific indicators of compromise related to memory corruption patterns and browser-based attack signatures. The mitigation approach must also consider the balance between security and usability, particularly in environments where legacy applications depend on older IE versions. Implementation of layered security controls including endpoint protection, network segmentation, and security information and event management systems provides the most robust defense against exploitation of this vulnerability.