CVE-2016-3222 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The Microsoft Edge Memory Corruption Vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft's web browser that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted websites. This vulnerability specifically affects Microsoft Edge versions prior to the security updates released in 2016, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries could exploit to compromise user systems. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that occurs during the processing of specially crafted web content, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources and execute malicious payloads with elevated privileges.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Edge's rendering engine, particularly when processing certain web elements or JavaScript code. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption patterns that lead to unpredictable behavior in the browser's memory management systems. These memory corruption issues typically occur when Edge attempts to parse or render complex web content that exceeds expected memory boundaries or when it accesses memory locations that have already been freed or deallocated. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the user to visit a malicious website, making it a client-side attack vector that leverages social engineering techniques to deliver the malicious payload through web-based delivery mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data theft capabilities. Successful exploitation can enable attackers to install malware, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent access to compromised systems through the browser. The memory corruption aspects of the vulnerability also present denial of service risks where attackers can cause Edge to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting legitimate user activities and potentially creating availability issues for affected systems. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Edge is the primary browser, as it can serve as a gateway for broader network compromise and lateral movement attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches released in response to this vulnerability. Browser hardening techniques such as enabling sandboxing features, implementing content security policies, and restricting access to potentially malicious websites should be deployed as additional protective measures. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common memory corruption patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where attackers leverage browser-based exploits to establish initial access and execute malicious commands on target systems. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Edge and ensure timely patch deployment across all affected endpoints.