CVE-2014-1815 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, as exploited in the wild in May 2014, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-0310.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2025
The CVE-2014-1815 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 11 that was actively exploited in the wild during May 2014. This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution exploits that leverage memory corruption techniques to compromise affected systems. The flaw specifically targets the browser's handling of certain web content, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the memory space of the running Internet Explorer process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Internet Explorer's rendering engine, particularly when processing malformed or specially crafted web content. Attackers could construct malicious web pages that, when loaded in affected browsers, would trigger memory corruption conditions leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates by manipulating memory addresses and data structures in ways that cause the browser to behave unpredictably, potentially allowing attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the logged-in user. This memory corruption typically manifests through heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that are common in browser exploitation scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1815 extends beyond simple remote code execution to include significant system compromise potential and denial of service conditions. Organizations running affected Internet Explorer versions faced substantial risk exposure as the vulnerability was actively exploited in targeted attacks, particularly in spear-phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios. The exploitability of this vulnerability was enhanced by the widespread adoption of older Internet Explorer versions, making it a prime target for nation-state actors and cybercriminal organizations seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks. The vulnerability's impact was particularly severe in environments where users had limited security awareness and where browser updates were delayed or blocked.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1815 required immediate action from organizations to address the memory corruption vulnerability in their Internet Explorer installations. Microsoft released security updates through Windows Update and the Microsoft Security Response Center, but organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems received the necessary fixes. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation for code execution and privilege escalation, specifically T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should have implemented browser hardening measures, including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious content before it could be processed by vulnerable browsers. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security measures and implementing multi-layered defense strategies to protect against similar memory corruption exploits that might target other browser components or operating system elements.