CVE-2014-1788 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-1774 and CVE-2014-2754.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2025
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service when users visit malicious websites. This vulnerability represents a sophisticated memory management flaw that occurs during web page rendering and processing, specifically affecting the browser's handling of certain web content structures. The flaw stems from improper memory allocation and deallocation mechanisms within the browser's JavaScript engine and rendering components, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by attackers to inject malicious code into the target system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses classified under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The memory corruption occurs when Internet Explorer processes malformed or specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory handling within the browser's memory management subsystem. Attackers can exploit this by hosting malicious web content that, when rendered by IE9, causes the browser to corrupt memory structures, potentially leading to code execution in the context of the current user. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser level, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security controls and directly manipulate system memory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer 9 remains in use, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites. The exploitation typically requires social engineering to lure victims to visit malicious sites, but once triggered, the vulnerability can result in complete system compromise. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability can also be leveraged to disrupt business operations by causing browser crashes or system instability. Organizations running IE9 are particularly vulnerable since this browser version lacks many of the modern security mitigations found in later versions, including address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to the attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter, as well as T1078.004 for valid accounts, since successful exploitation often leads to privilege escalation and persistent access. The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches, implementation of browser hardening measures, network-based restrictions on access to potentially malicious sites, and comprehensive user education to avoid visiting untrusted websites. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to detect and block exploitation attempts. Additionally, migrating away from Internet Explorer 9 to supported browser versions remains the most effective long-term solution to eliminate exposure to this and similar vulnerabilities.