CVE-2016-3269 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
The Chakra JavaScript engine in Microsoft Edge allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, aka "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-3265.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3269 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra JavaScript engine that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the scripting engine component responsible for processing JavaScript code within the browser environment, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user systems through web-based exploits. The issue stems from improper memory management during JavaScript execution, creating conditions where maliciously crafted web content can trigger unpredictable behavior in the engine's memory allocation and deallocation processes. Security researchers have classified this as a memory corruption vulnerability that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and consumer environments where Edge browser usage is prevalent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that occurs when the Chakra engine processes specially crafted JavaScript code through malicious websites. Attackers can construct web pages containing malformed JavaScript instructions that, when executed by Edge's engine, cause memory pointers to become corrupted or improperly managed. This memory corruption can lead to heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions where the engine attempts to access memory locations that have already been freed or improperly allocated. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of JavaScript interpretation and memory management, where the engine's failure to properly validate memory operations during script execution creates exploitable conditions. This flaw is distinct from CVE-2016-3265, indicating separate code paths and memory management issues within the same engine, demonstrating the complexity of modern browser security architectures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations and individual users who rely on Microsoft Edge for web browsing activities. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can potentially install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites. The denial of service component of this vulnerability can be used to disrupt legitimate browser operations, causing crashes or system instability that affects productivity and user experience. Organizations using Edge in corporate environments face particular risk as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass traditional security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site, making it particularly effective for phishing campaigns and drive-by download attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3269 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches that address the memory corruption issues within the Chakra engine. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious JavaScript patterns. Browser hardening techniques including disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing mechanisms can reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious memory access patterns and anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining updated browser versions. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes 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 involving exploitation of known vulnerabilities and privilege escalation through browser-based attacks, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security operations.