CVE-2014-0302 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 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-2014-0303.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 8 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes when processing certain web page elements. The flaw manifested when Internet Explorer encountered crafted HTML or JavaScript content that triggered improper memory management operations, leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or arbitrary code execution within the context of the user's session. The vulnerability stemmed from insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking mechanisms within the browser's rendering engine, particularly affecting how the browser managed dynamic memory allocation for web page objects and scripts. Attackers could exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in a vulnerable Internet Explorer instance, would cause the browser to corrupt memory structures and potentially execute attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the logged-in user. This vulnerability represented a classic buffer overflow scenario where the browser failed to properly validate the size and content of memory allocations, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite critical memory regions and redirect execution flow. The impact extended beyond simple code execution to include potential system compromise, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to install malware, modify system files, or establish persistent access to affected systems. This vulnerability aligned with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, demonstrating the intersection of memory management flaws that could be leveraged for privilege escalation. The attack vector required user interaction through web browsing, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users accessed untrusted websites or received malicious emails containing links to compromised web pages. Organizations running these outdated browser versions faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild and had no available patches for the affected versions. The technical nature of the flaw made it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures, as the malicious code was delivered through legitimate web protocols and appeared to be normal web content until execution occurred. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of keeping browser software updated and implementing additional security controls such as sandboxing and application whitelisting to mitigate risks from unpatched browser vulnerabilities. The exploitability of this vulnerability made it a preferred target for advanced persistent threat actors and cybercriminals seeking to compromise enterprise networks through initial access vectors that leveraged widely used software components. Security researchers classified this as a high-severity vulnerability due to its remote exploitability and potential for privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation through browser updates or alternative security measures. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Internet Explorer versions demonstrated how fundamental memory management flaws could remain undetected for extended periods, underscoring the importance of comprehensive security testing and code review processes in software development lifecycle. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management strategies and consider alternative browsing solutions to protect against exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in legacy browser software. The technical characteristics of this flaw also made it susceptible to exploitation through various attack frameworks and tools, further increasing its threat potential in real-world scenarios.