CVE-2014-1780 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 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-2014-1772, CVE-2014-1794, CVE-2014-1797, CVE-2014-1802, CVE-2014-2756, CVE-2014-2763, CVE-2014-2764, CVE-2014-2769, and CVE-2014-2771.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2025
This vulnerability affects Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations when processing crafted web content, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit memory management weaknesses in the browser's rendering engine. The flaw specifically manifests when Internet Explorer encounters maliciously constructed web pages that trigger buffer overflows or heap corruption during normal browsing operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual implementation involves heap-based memory corruption patterns typical of modern browser exploits. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring any local privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it highly suitable for drive-by download scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting specific web content that, when rendered by Internet Explorer, causes memory corruption in the browser's memory management subsystem. Attackers typically leverage JavaScript or ActiveX controls to manipulate memory pointers or allocate memory in ways that overwrite critical data structures or execute arbitrary code within the browser process context. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of HTML elements, CSS properties, or JavaScript objects that are parsed and rendered by Internet Explorer's engine. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern browser security models where multiple rendering engines and scripting environments must interoperate while maintaining memory safety boundaries. The exploit chain often involves information disclosure to determine memory layout, followed by memory corruption techniques such as use-after-free or double-free conditions that allow attackers to gain control over execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Successful exploitation can result in privilege escalation to SYSTEM level access, enabling attackers to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability affects all Windows versions that support Internet Explorer 10 and 11, including Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2008 R2, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these browsers remain in use. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that even partial exploitation can lead to denial of service conditions that prevent normal browser operation, effectively disabling the targeted system's ability to access web resources. Organizations running these vulnerable browsers face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromise, particularly when users visit malicious websites or open compromised email attachments containing malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the vendor released specific patches addressing the memory corruption issues in Internet Explorer. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious web content before it reaches vulnerable systems. Security teams should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and encouraging users to migrate to more secure modern browsers like Microsoft Edge or Chrome, which have better memory safety mechanisms and more frequent security updates. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how browser-based attacks can leverage fundamental memory management flaws to achieve system compromise, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through scripting and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation.