CVE-2014-1785 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-1769, CVE-2014-1782, CVE-2014-2753, CVE-2014-2755, CVE-2014-2760, CVE-2014-2761, CVE-2014-2772, and CVE-2014-2776.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2025
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 significant security flaw in the browser's handling of memory operations during web page rendering and script execution processes. The flaw specifically manifests when Internet Explorer encounters improperly structured web elements that trigger memory corruption during normal browsing operations, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit the vulnerability remotely without requiring local system access.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within Internet Explorer's rendering engine. When processing crafted web content, the browser fails to properly validate memory boundaries and object references, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the browser's JavaScript engine or HTML parser does not adequately sanitize user-supplied data before processing it, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed web pages that exploit the underlying memory management flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to include potential system compromise and denial of service scenarios. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges on affected systems, potentially leading to full system control or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects Windows operating systems running Internet Explorer 11, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy browsers remain in use. Additionally, the remote exploitation capability means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites, eliminating the need for user interaction beyond normal browsing activities.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories from the Common Weakness Enumeration database, which classify it as a stack-based buffer overflow and heap-based buffer overflow respectively. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for Scripting and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security patches, disabling unnecessary browser features, and implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious content. Browser isolation techniques and sandboxing mechanisms can also provide additional protection layers against exploitation attempts targeting this memory corruption flaw.