CVE-2016-0124 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-2016-0123, CVE-2016-0129, and CVE-2016-0130.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0124 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge web browser that enables remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or system denial of service. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of crafted web content and demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex browser rendering engines that process untrusted input from web pages. The flaw resides in Edge's JavaScript engine and memory management systems, where improper validation of web content can lead to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt normal operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of memory structures during web page rendering processes where Edge fails to properly validate input data from malicious websites. Attackers can craft specific web pages containing malicious JavaScript or HTML elements that trigger memory corruption when processed by the browser's rendering engine. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the intersection of browser security and memory management, where the browser's attempt to optimize rendering performance creates exploitable conditions that adversaries can leverage through carefully constructed malicious web content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise and individual users who rely on Microsoft Edge for web browsing activities. The remote exploitation nature means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites without any additional user interaction required. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual systems to potentially affect entire networks, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise or service disruption. Organizations running Microsoft Edge browsers are particularly vulnerable since the attack surface includes all web browsing activities, making this a high-priority security concern for IT administrators and security teams responsible for protecting corporate networks.
The exploitability of CVE-2016-0124 aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly within the execution and privilege escalation domains. Adversaries can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code in the context of the Edge browser process, potentially leading to broader system compromise through subsequent exploitation techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of browser sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms that are designed to contain exploits and prevent them from affecting the broader operating system. Security professionals should consider implementing network-based protections and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates that included memory validation improvements and enhanced browser sandboxing mechanisms, emphasizing the need for timely patch management and proactive security measures to protect against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.