CVE-2016-0130 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-2016-0124, and CVE-2016-0129.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2022
The Microsoft Edge Memory Corruption Vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0130 represents a critical security flaw within the Edge browser's rendering engine that enables remote code execution and denial of service conditions. This vulnerability specifically affects Microsoft Edge versions prior to the security updates released in January 2016, making it part of a broader series of memory corruption issues that impacted the browser's handling of web content. The flaw manifests when the browser processes specially crafted web pages that trigger memory corruption conditions in the underlying JavaScript engine, particularly affecting the V8 JavaScript engine used by Edge. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated exploitation chain that leverages memory management flaws in how Edge handles dynamic content rendering, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a heap-based memory corruption issue that occurs during the processing of malformed web content. When Edge encounters maliciously crafted HTML, JavaScript, or CSS elements, the browser's memory management system fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. This memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite critical memory locations and potentially inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the Edge process. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1203 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0130 extends beyond simple remote code execution to include significant system compromise potential and denial of service scenarios. Successful exploitation can result in full system compromise, allowing attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and exfiltrate sensitive data from affected systems. Organizations running vulnerable Edge browsers face substantial risk as this vulnerability can be exploited through drive-by downloads, malicious websites, or compromised web applications without user interaction. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Edge may be the default browser or where users navigate to untrusted web content. Additionally, the memory corruption nature of the flaw makes it challenging to detect through traditional network monitoring, as the exploitation occurs entirely within the browser's memory space.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0130 focus primarily on applying Microsoft's security updates and implementing browser hardening measures. Organizations should immediately deploy the January 2016 security updates that address this vulnerability through memory validation improvements and enhanced input sanitization. Browser hardening techniques include implementing content security policies, disabling unnecessary browser features, and configuring enhanced security zones to limit exposure to malicious content. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious memory access patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques and maintaining updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated browser configurations to ensure that legitimate business functionality remains intact while eliminating the security risk associated with this memory corruption vulnerability.