CVE-2014-2765 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-1773, CVE-2014-1783, CVE-2014-1784, CVE-2014-1786, CVE-2014-1795, CVE-2014-1805, CVE-2014-2758, CVE-2014-2759, CVE-2014-2766, and CVE-2014-2775.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically affected the browser's handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes when processing crafted web pages. The flaw manifested as an improper memory management issue that occurred during the rendering of certain web elements, particularly those involving complex object manipulation and dynamic content generation. Attackers could exploit this weakness by hosting malicious websites that, when visited by unsuspecting users, would trigger the memory corruption flaw in the browser's JavaScript engine or rendering components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses identified under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These classifications reflect how the vulnerability allowed attackers to manipulate memory locations beyond their intended boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The flaw was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site. The memory corruption occurred in the browser's memory management subsystem, specifically during the handling of JavaScript objects and their associated memory structures, making it difficult to detect through traditional security measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represented a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Internet Explorer remained the primary browser for business operations. The exploit could be delivered through various attack vectors including phishing emails, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites that would automatically execute the malicious code upon page load. The remote execution capability meant that attackers could gain full control over affected systems without requiring physical access or local network presence. This made the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to target networks. The denial of service component of the vulnerability could also be leveraged to disrupt legitimate business operations by causing browser crashes or system instability.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability needed to implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches released in April 2014 as part of the Microsoft Security Response Center's coordinated fixes. The recommended approach involved deploying the cumulative security update for Internet Explorer that addressed the memory corruption issue through improved memory management routines and enhanced validation of input data. Additionally, implementing browser hardening techniques such as disabling unnecessary browser features, using enhanced security configurations, and deploying application whitelisting solutions provided additional defense layers. Network-based mitigations including web application firewalls and content filtering systems could help prevent access to known malicious domains while security monitoring systems needed to be configured to detect unusual browser behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to address similar issues in the future.