CVE-2014-0306 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and 9 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 versions 8 and 9 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations during web page rendering, specifically when processing certain object types within the browser's memory space. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer encounters malformed or specially constructed web elements that trigger buffer overflows or heap corruption during the parsing and execution phases of webpage rendering. Attackers could leverage this weakness by hosting malicious content on compromised websites or through social engineering techniques that诱导 users to visit harmful pages. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level memory management functions, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security mechanisms. According to CWE classification, this represents a memory corruption vulnerability categorized under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, both of which fall under the broader category of improper handling of memory operations. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, specifically targeting the browser as the attack surface. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include complete system compromise, as successful exploitation allows attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges within the context of the user's session. The memory corruption occurs during the JavaScript engine's handling of objects, particularly when dealing with complex object hierarchies and dynamic memory allocation patterns. This vulnerability was particularly concerning because Internet Explorer 8 and 9 were widely deployed across enterprise environments, making the attack surface extremely broad. The exploitation typically involves crafting specific JavaScript code or HTML elements that trigger the memory corruption during normal browsing operations. Organizations running these affected versions faced significant risk, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious advertisements, compromised websites, or phishing campaigns. Microsoft released a security update that patched the vulnerability, but the widespread deployment of these older browser versions meant that many systems remained exposed for extended periods. The technical nature of this vulnerability required careful analysis of memory management routines and browser rendering engines, as the flaw existed in the fundamental way these browsers handled dynamic content. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability was particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional network-based security measures, as the attack occurs within the browser's local memory space. The remediation process required users to update their browsers to patched versions, but many organizations delayed updates due to compatibility concerns with legacy applications. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of keeping browser software up to date and demonstrated how memory corruption flaws in widely used applications could create massive security risks across global networks. The incident underscored the critical need for robust memory safety practices in browser development and the importance of regular security assessments of client-side applications. Organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability were particularly vulnerable to advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploits that could leverage the memory corruption for broader system compromise. The vulnerability also demonstrated the effectiveness of automated exploit frameworks that could quickly adapt to such memory corruption flaws, making the risk assessment for affected systems particularly critical.