CVE-2016-3198 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Edge allows remote attackers to bypass the Content Security Policy (CSP) protection mechanism via a crafted document, aka "Microsoft Edge Security Feature Bypass."
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2022
Microsoft Edge security feature bypass vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the browser's content security policy enforcement mechanisms that could allow remote attackers to circumvent essential web security protections. This vulnerability specifically targets the Content Security Policy implementation within Microsoft Edge browser, enabling malicious actors to execute unauthorized code or access restricted resources despite the presence of security controls designed to prevent such activities. The flaw manifests when Edge processes crafted documents that contain specially constructed elements or attributes that exploit implementation gaps in the CSP enforcement logic.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and enforcement of security policies during document processing within the Edge rendering engine. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or documents that appear legitimate to the browser but contain hidden elements designed to bypass CSP restrictions. These crafted documents typically leverage specific parsing behaviors or timing conditions that allow malicious content to execute outside the intended security boundaries. The vulnerability exploits the gap between the policy definition and its actual enforcement, particularly when Edge encounters complex or unexpected document structures that trigger the bypass mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that web applications rely upon for protection against cross-site scripting attacks and data exfiltration attempts. When successfully exploited, attackers can bypass restrictions that would normally prevent scripts from loading from external domains, disable security headers, or execute arbitrary code within the browser context. This allows for sophisticated attacks including credential theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation that would otherwise be blocked by standard CSP implementations. The vulnerability affects all versions of Microsoft Edge that implement Content Security Policy, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Edge is widely deployed.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates and patch management to address the underlying vulnerability in Edge's CSP enforcement. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and enhanced monitoring for suspicious document processing activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1107, which addresses improper enforcement of security policies, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage the bypass to execute malicious scripts within compromised browsing contexts. Security teams should also consider implementing browser security hardening measures and regular security assessments to identify similar implementation gaps in other browser security features.