CVE-2014-0311 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-2014-0299 and CVE-2014-0305.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 and represents a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, specifically when processing crafted web content that triggers heap corruption conditions. Attackers can leverage this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in Internet Explorer, causes the browser to allocate or access memory in an unsafe manner, leading to potential code execution at the privileges of the current user.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes. These memory corruption issues occur during the browser's JavaScript engine execution and object model manipulation, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite memory locations that control program execution flow. The flaw exists in the browser's rendering engine and script processing components, particularly affecting how Internet Explorer handles dynamic object creation and memory allocation during page load operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, as it can be exploited through simple web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site. The attack vector typically involves phishing campaigns or compromised websites that deliver malicious content designed to trigger the memory corruption conditions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors.
The impact extends beyond immediate exploitation as it demonstrates the ongoing security challenges associated with legacy browser support and the complexity of maintaining secure rendering engines over extended software lifecycles. Organizations running affected versions of Internet Explorer should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, security policy restrictions, and network-based protections such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the attack chain from initial compromise through code execution. Given the severity and widespread impact, system administrators must prioritize patch management and consider alternative browsing solutions for environments where legacy IE support cannot be immediately discontinued.