CVE-2016-3330 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-2016-3294.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3330 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Microsoft Edge web browser that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the rendering engine of Microsoft Edge and demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex browser architectures that process untrusted web content. The flaw manifests when Edge encounters specially crafted web content that triggers memory corruption during normal browser operation, creating opportunities for attackers to execute malicious code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves improper memory management within Edge's JavaScript engine and rendering components. When processing malformed web content, the browser fails to properly validate memory operations, leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios. These memory corruption issues typically occur during the parsing and execution of JavaScript code or when handling complex web page elements such as DOM manipulation operations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as out-of-bounds read conditions and CWE-787 as out-of-bounds write conditions, representing common memory safety issues in modern web browsers. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious websites that trigger the corrupted memory operations when users browse to these sites, effectively bypassing traditional security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3330 extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure and user data protection. Organizations running Microsoft Edge browsers are at risk of unauthorized code execution on user systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge versions prior to the security updates released in June 2016, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with delayed patch management processes. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. The remote nature of the attack vector means that users do not need to interact with malicious files directly, making the vulnerability particularly stealthy and dangerous.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3330 require immediate patch deployment and implementation of additional security controls to protect against exploitation attempts. Microsoft released security updates in June 2016 that addressed this vulnerability through memory validation improvements and enhanced input sanitization within Edge's rendering engine. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes and ensure all Edge installations are updated to the latest security patches. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, deploying browser hardening configurations, and utilizing sandboxing technologies to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network-based detection can be achieved through signature-based intrusion detection systems that monitor for known malicious web content patterns associated with this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include user education to avoid visiting untrusted websites and implementing security awareness training programs that emphasize the risks of visiting malicious websites. Given the vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption flaw, organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to reduce exploitation success rates.