CVE-2014-2764 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 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-2014-1772, CVE-2014-1780, CVE-2014-1794, CVE-2014-1797, CVE-2014-1802, CVE-2014-2756, CVE-2014-2763, CVE-2014-2769, and CVE-2014-2771.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through specially crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory management during web page rendering processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit weaknesses in the browser's code execution environment. The flaw manifested when Internet Explorer processed certain malformed or crafted HTML elements, script code, or multimedia content that triggered improper memory allocation or deallocation sequences within the browser's memory space. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from other contemporaneous Internet Explorer flaws, as evidenced by its separate CVE identification and unique exploitation characteristics.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability aligns with common CWE classifications related to buffer overflows, heap corruption, and memory management errors that fall under the broader category of software security flaws. Attackers could craft malicious web pages containing specially formatted JavaScript code or HTML elements that would cause Internet Explorer to allocate memory in unexpected ways, leading to memory corruption that could be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user. The exploitation typically required the victim to visit a malicious website or open a specially crafted email attachment containing web content that triggered the vulnerable code path. This vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it allowed for remote code execution without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site, making it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and zero-day exploitation campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe for organizations relying on Internet Explorer 10 and 11, as it provided attackers with a straightforward method to compromise user systems and potentially escalate privileges. The memory corruption could result in browser crashes, system instability, or full system compromise depending on the exploitation method used. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability was particularly effective in environments where users had administrative privileges, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system control. Organizations faced significant risk from targeted attacks using this vulnerability, as it was often incorporated into exploit kits that automated the delivery and execution of malicious payloads. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed browser versions meant that large numbers of users were potentially exposed, making it a high-priority target for both nation-state actors and criminal organizations seeking to leverage the broad attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focused on immediate patch deployment, as Microsoft released security updates that addressed the memory corruption issues in affected Internet Explorer versions. Organizations were advised to implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that could detect and block malicious web content targeting this specific vulnerability. Browser hardening techniques including disabling unnecessary features, implementing strict security policies, and using sandboxing mechanisms provided additional layers of protection. Security teams were encouraged to monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, as the vulnerability often manifested through specific patterns of memory access and code execution. The remediation process required careful testing to ensure that security updates did not break existing business applications, particularly those that relied heavily on Internet Explorer for legacy functionality. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive browser security strategies that went beyond simple patch management to include proactive threat hunting and incident response capabilities.