CVE-2016-0084 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Edge allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Microsoft Edge Memory Corruption Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2022
The Microsoft Edge Memory Corruption Vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0084 represents a critical security flaw within Microsoft's web browser that enables remote code execution and denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically affects Microsoft Edge versions prior to the security patches released in February 2016, demonstrating the persistent challenge organizations face with browser-based attack vectors that leverage memory corruption exploits to gain unauthorized system access. The flaw resides in how Edge processes certain web elements, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute malicious code remotely without user interaction.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within Edge's rendering engine, particularly when processing specific web page elements or JavaScript code. Attackers can craft web pages that trigger memory corruption conditions through techniques such as buffer overflows, use-after-free errors, or heap corruption mechanisms. These memory corruption issues typically occur when Edge fails to properly validate input data or allocate memory resources during web page rendering, allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory pointers or overwrite critical system structures. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the browser's memory management system, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional security controls and execute code with the privileges of the Edge process.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0084 extends beyond simple exploitation, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access to affected systems while potentially causing system instability through denial of service conditions. Organizations running vulnerable Edge browsers face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users access untrusted websites or receive phishing emails containing malicious web content. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by hosting malicious web content, eliminating the need for physical access or complex initial compromise techniques. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise environments where Edge browsers are commonly used for web browsing and internal applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0084 focus primarily on immediate patching and browser security hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates in February 2016 that addressed the memory corruption issues through improved input validation and memory management within Edge's rendering engine. Organizations should prioritize applying these patches across all affected systems and implement browser security policies that restrict access to untrusted websites. Additional protective measures include enabling browser sandboxing features, implementing web content filtering solutions, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of how browser-based memory corruption vulnerabilities can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access. Security professionals should also consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for detecting and preventing browser-based exploitation attempts through network monitoring and endpoint detection capabilities.