CVE-2014-2761 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-2014-1785, CVE-2014-2753, CVE-2014-2755, CVE-2014-2760, CVE-2014-2772, and CVE-2014-2776.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
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 allocation and management during web page rendering processes. The issue specifically affects Internet Explorer 11 and differs from several other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2014-1769, CVE-2014-1782, CVE-2014-1785, CVE-2014-2753, CVE-2014-2755, CVE-2014-2760, CVE-2014-2772, and CVE-2014-2776, indicating a distinct code path or memory handling mechanism that introduces the flaw. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management when processing certain web elements, particularly those involving complex rendering operations or object manipulation within the browser's JavaScript engine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that occurs when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web content containing malformed or malicious data structures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web pages that trigger specific memory allocation patterns or buffer overflows within the browser's rendering engine. When a user visits such a malicious website, the browser's memory management system encounters unexpected data that leads to memory corruption, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or execute arbitrary code within the context of the user's session. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, though it specifically manifests in heap memory corruption scenarios typical of modern browser exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and denial of service conditions. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise when attackers leverage the memory corruption to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability affects all versions of Internet Explorer 11 that are installed on Windows systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where legacy browser versions may still be in use. Organizations running affected systems face significant risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and persistent threats that could remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires user interaction through visiting malicious websites, making social engineering attacks particularly effective in combination with this memory corruption flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the company released specific patches addressing the memory corruption issue in Internet Explorer 11. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser security policies that include disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing application whitelisting, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help prevent access to known malicious domains. Additionally, users should be educated about safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping their systems updated. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 category for Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of privilege escalation techniques when attackers successfully exploit memory corruption to gain elevated system privileges through browser-based attacks.