CVE-2014-0304 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow scenario where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory structures and potentially gain unauthorized system access. The flaw exists within the browser's rendering engine and occurs when processing specially crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code that triggers memory corruption during normal web page execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and memory management within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and HTML parser components. Attackers can construct malicious web pages containing malformed data structures that, when rendered by the browser, cause memory corruption in the process heap. This memory corruption typically manifests as stack or heap corruption that can be exploited to redirect program execution flow to attacker-controlled code. The vulnerability affects the browser's ability to properly handle memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential system compromise and denial of service scenarios. When exploited successfully, attackers can gain the same privileges as the logged-on user, potentially allowing full system control, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects Windows operating systems where Internet Explorer 11 is installed, with particular risk to enterprise environments where browser-based attacks are common. Organizations running older versions of Windows or those unable to patch promptly face heightened exposure to this threat vector. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the widespread use of Internet Explorer in corporate environments and the difficulty of detecting malicious content within legitimate web browsing activities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript and T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, representing common attack paths in modern cyber operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, implementation of browser security restrictions such as Internet Explorer's protected mode, and network-level controls to block suspicious web content. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting Internet Explorer usage to trusted sites only. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary JavaScript features and implementing content security policies can significantly reduce exploitation risk. Regular security assessments and monitoring for suspicious browser activity should be implemented alongside these technical controls. System administrators should also consider deploying web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The remediation process requires careful testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to prevent service disruption while maintaining security posture.