CVE-2016-0105 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0107, CVE-2016-0111, CVE-2016-0112, and CVE-2016-0113.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 and Microsoft Edge browsers. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering processes, creating opportunities for remote code execution through maliciously crafted web content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting specially designed web pages that trigger memory corruption conditions when the affected browsers attempt to process the content. The flaw manifests as heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that occur when the browsers parse specific HTML elements or JavaScript code sequences.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-476, which covers null pointer dereference scenarios. These memory corruption issues typically occur when the browser's rendering engine fails to properly validate input data before allocating memory for web content processing. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser engine architecture and memory management, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory pointers and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised browser process. This represents a classic example of a remote code execution vulnerability that can be leveraged through web-based attack vectors.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it enables attackers to gain full control of affected systems without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially enable broader network infiltration and lateral movement within corporate environments. The vulnerability affects multiple browser versions simultaneously, amplifying its potential attack surface and making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where various browser versions may coexist. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability as part of broader browser security assessments and incident response planning.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security patches and updates, along with network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence feeds. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping browser software current and implementing layered security approaches that include user education about avoiding suspicious websites. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing exploit prevention technologies that can detect and block known exploitation patterns associated with memory corruption vulnerabilities. This vulnerability exemplifies why regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes are essential for maintaining robust cybersecurity postures.