CVE-2016-0123 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0116, CVE-2016-0124, CVE-2016-0129, and CVE-2016-0130.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2022
This vulnerability resides within Microsoft Edge web browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how the browser processes certain web content that leads to memory corruption issues. The flaw enables remote attackers to craft malicious websites that can trigger arbitrary code execution or cause system crashes through memory corruption mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the context of web browsing, making it accessible through standard internet navigation without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised site.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within Edge's JavaScript engine or rendering components. Attackers can exploit this by constructing web pages that manipulate memory structures in unexpected ways, potentially leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management flaws. These conditions allow attackers to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the Edge process, which typically runs with the same privileges as the logged-in user. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the browser's memory management system, making it particularly stealthy and difficult to detect through conventional security measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for enterprise environments where users frequently browse the internet and access potentially untrusted websites. The remote execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by having users visit malicious sites, making it an attractive target for phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, and other social engineering attacks. The memory corruption aspect also introduces denial of service risks where legitimate users could experience browser crashes or system instability when encountering malicious content. Organizations with limited patch management capabilities face particular risk since this vulnerability could remain unaddressed for extended periods, providing attackers with persistent access vectors.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for Microsoft Edge and related Windows components, as well as implementing network-level controls such as web proxies with content filtering and sandboxing techniques. Organizations should consider implementing browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, restricting JavaScript execution in sensitive contexts, and employing advanced threat protection solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where adversaries leverage browser-based exploitation techniques to establish initial access, often following the path described in the attack phase of the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns and unusual browser behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. The CWE classification for this type of vulnerability typically falls under memory corruption categories, specifically CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read conditions and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write conditions, which are fundamental weaknesses in software memory management that require robust defensive programming practices to prevent exploitation.