CVE-2014-1773 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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-2014-1783, CVE-2014-1784, CVE-2014-1786, CVE-2014-1795, CVE-2014-1805, CVE-2014-2758, CVE-2014-2759, CVE-2014-2765, CVE-2014-2766, and CVE-2014-2775.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1773 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content, making it a significant threat to enterprise and individual users alike. The flaw specifically resides within the browser's handling of memory operations during web page rendering, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged across various attack vectors. Security researchers have classified this as a distinct vulnerability from several related issues including CVE-2014-1783 through CVE-2014-2775, emphasizing its unique characteristics and attack surface.
The technical implementation of this memory corruption vulnerability involves improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within Internet Explorer's JavaScript engine and rendering components. Attackers can craft specific web pages containing malicious JavaScript or HTML elements that trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors when the browser processes these elements. These conditions typically occur when the browser attempts to render complex web content or when handling certain object references in memory. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web services that deliver the malicious payload directly to the victim's browser.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations as it allows for remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The impact extends beyond simple exploitation to include potential system compromise, data theft, and persistent backdoor installation. Security professionals have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack techniques, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. The affected versions span multiple generations of Internet Explorer, indicating a widespread exposure that would require extensive patch management efforts to remediate effectively.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security updates, deploying browser security restrictions, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to exploitation of web browsers and memory corruption vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to recognize potentially malicious websites and establish monitoring procedures for unusual browser behavior. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits that can rapidly escalate in impact and scope.