CVE-2016-0062 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Microsoft Browser Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0062 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge browsers. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically when processing crafted web content that triggers memory corruption conditions. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions through carefully constructed malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser level where user interactions with web content are processed, making it accessible through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These weaknesses occur when the browser's memory management fails to properly validate input data during web page rendering, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations. The vulnerability operates through the browser's JavaScript engine and rendering components, where malformed web content triggers buffer overflows or memory corruption patterns that can be leveraged by attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. The exploitation typically involves crafting specific web pages that cause the browser to allocate memory incorrectly, leading to predictable memory corruption patterns that can be weaponized.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for enterprise environments where users regularly browse the internet and may encounter malicious websites through phishing campaigns, compromised web services, or drive-by download attacks. The remote code execution capability means that successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The denial of service component can be used to disrupt business operations by causing browser crashes or system instability, potentially affecting productivity and availability of critical services. Organizations with legacy systems or those unable to patch immediately face heightened risk as this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web-based attacks, or compromised websites that users might visit during normal browsing activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0062 should include immediate application of Microsoft security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in the browser's rendering engine. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as enabling enhanced security features, restricting browser privileges, and deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized code. Network-based mitigations including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious web content before it reaches users. Additionally, security awareness training should be conducted to educate users about recognizing potentially malicious websites and avoiding suspicious web content. The vulnerability also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) which emphasize the importance of layered defensive measures including network monitoring, endpoint protection, and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.