CVE-2014-1800 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1800 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 8 through 11. This vulnerability resides within the browser's handling of memory management during web page rendering processes, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage remotely. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer encounters specifically crafted web content that triggers improper memory handling, leading to potential arbitrary code execution or system-wide denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations beyond allocated boundaries. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of web content, particularly when Internet Explorer attempts to manage memory for dynamic web elements such as JavaScript objects, DOM manipulation, or rendering of complex web pages. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that, when loaded in affected browsers, cause memory corruption through improper memory allocation or deallocation sequences.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations since Internet Explorer remains widely deployed across corporate environments, particularly in legacy systems and environments where browser upgrades are delayed or restricted. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can deliver malicious payloads through phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements without requiring local system access. The vulnerability affects both desktop and enterprise environments, with potential for widespread impact given the browser's prevalence in business and government sectors.
The attack surface for CVE-2014-1800 encompasses various attack vectors including web-based exploitation through malicious websites, drive-by downloads, and social engineering campaigns targeting users to visit compromised web pages. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability's impact severity classification as critical in the Common Vulnerability Scoring System reflects its potential for remote code execution, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors and cybercriminal organizations seeking to compromise enterprise networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft security patches, deploying browser isolation solutions, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potentially compromised systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates the critical need for organizations to establish robust vulnerability management processes that can quickly respond to emerging threats in the browser security landscape.