CVE-2014-2768 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 8 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-2014-2773.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 6 through 8 contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through specially crafted web content. This vulnerability represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow scenario where malicious web pages can manipulate memory structures in ways that lead to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The flaw occurs during the processing of certain HTML elements and JavaScript constructs that trigger improper memory management within the browser's rendering engine. According to CWE-125, this vulnerability stems from reading memory outside the bounds of a buffer, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution. The memory corruption manifests when Internet Explorer attempts to handle malformed or specially constructed web elements, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to gain arbitrary code execution privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in the vulnerable browser versions, triggers the memory corruption sequence. The exploit typically involves crafting web pages with specific JavaScript or HTML structures that cause the browser to allocate or access memory in unexpected ways. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple code execution as the memory corruption can also result in denial of service conditions that crash the browser or make the system unstable. Organizations running these older browser versions face significant risk since they are no longer supported with security updates, making them prime targets for exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern web browsers and their susceptibility to memory management flaws that can be exploited through seemingly benign web content. Microsoft addressed this issue through security updates, but the widespread use of legacy Internet Explorer versions meant that many systems remained vulnerable for extended periods. The exploitation techniques for this vulnerability align with common attack patterns found in the cybersecurity community, where attackers target known vulnerabilities in widely used software components to gain unauthorized access to systems. This particular vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping browser software updated and the risks associated with using deprecated software versions that no longer receive security patches. The technical nature of the flaw requires careful memory management and proper bounds checking within the browser's code execution environment to prevent such corruption scenarios from occurring. Security researchers have documented similar patterns in other browser components, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and memory safety practices in web browser development. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to supported browser versions or implementing additional security controls to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and the potential consequences of operating legacy systems in modern threat environments.