CVE-2014-2775 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-2014-2765, and CVE-2014-2766.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2775 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 that enables remote code execution through malicious web content. This vulnerability operates within the browser's rendering engine and specifically targets memory management functions that handle web page elements, creating opportunities for attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on victim systems. The flaw manifests when Internet Explorer processes specially crafted web pages that exploit memory corruption patterns, potentially leading to complete system compromise or denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory structures during web page rendering processes, particularly when processing certain JavaScript objects or DOM elements. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that trigger buffer overflows or use after free conditions within Internet Explorer's memory management subsystem. These memory corruption issues occur when the browser fails to properly validate input data or properly manage memory allocation and deallocation cycles, allowing malicious code to overwrite critical memory locations or execute arbitrary instructions. The vulnerability specifically affects the JScript engine and Active Scripting components that process dynamic web content, making it particularly dangerous in modern web browsing environments where users frequently encounter untrusted content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Internet Explorer remains in use, particularly in legacy systems that have not been migrated to modern browsers. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites, making it a highly attractive target for automated attacks and phishing campaigns. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) categories, which are commonly exploited in browser-based attacks. Organizations utilizing the attack technique described in MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) would face significant exposure to this vulnerability.
The impact of exploitation can range from complete system compromise to denial of service conditions, depending on the specific memory corruption pattern achieved by the attacker. Successful exploitation typically results in the execution of malicious code with the privileges of the compromised user, potentially leading to data theft, system takeover, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Internet Explorer versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the browser's memory management architecture rather than a one-time coding error. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter untrusted web content regularly. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches, implementation of browser isolation techniques, and consideration of alternative browser solutions to reduce attack surface. The vulnerability's relationship to other related CVEs in the same year demonstrates a pattern of memory corruption issues affecting Internet Explorer's scripting engines, highlighting the need for comprehensive browser security assessments and regular patch management procedures.