CVE-2016-3350 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-2016-3377.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3350 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra JavaScript engine, which serves as the core execution environment for JavaScript code in the browser. This vulnerability specifically affects the scripting engine's handling of memory management during JavaScript execution, creating a pathway for remote attackers to potentially gain unauthorized code execution privileges on affected systems. The flaw manifests when malicious web content is loaded through Microsoft Edge, exploiting improper memory handling mechanisms that can lead to unpredictable behavior and system compromise. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the browser's architecture, leveraging the Chakra engine's JavaScript interpretation and execution capabilities to create conditions where memory corruption occurs during normal web browsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption patterns that occur when the Chakra engine processes specific JavaScript constructs or objects within web pages. Attackers can craft malicious web content that triggers memory allocation and deallocation sequences in ways that cause buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors. These conditions result in the corruption of memory regions that should remain protected, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical program data or execution pointers. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires a user to visit a malicious website, making it a client-side attack vector that leverages social engineering techniques to deliver the payload. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways including heap corruption, stack corruption, or other memory management anomalies that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3350 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can enable full remote code execution capabilities for attackers who successfully exploit the vulnerability. This means that compromised systems could be used as launching points for further attacks, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms within network environments. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge browsers running on Windows 10 and earlier versions, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Edge is commonly used for web browsing. Organizations that rely heavily on Edge for business operations face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors. The memory corruption aspects of this vulnerability align with common attack patterns documented in the attack framework, particularly those involving memory corruption exploitation techniques that are frequently targeted by advanced persistent threat actors.
Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates that modified the Chakra engine's memory management routines and implemented additional validation checks for JavaScript code execution. The fix involved strengthening memory allocation and deallocation procedures within the engine, adding bounds checking mechanisms, and improving the overall robustness of JavaScript object handling. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping browser engines updated, as the Chakra engine's memory management flaws represent a significant attack surface. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119, which covers "Improper Access to Memory" conditions, and its exploitation patterns correspond to ATT&CK techniques involving memory corruption and code injection. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures and consider browser hardening techniques to mitigate the risk of similar vulnerabilities in the future. The incident highlights the critical nature of JavaScript engine security and the need for continuous monitoring of browser component vulnerabilities, particularly those that can lead to arbitrary code execution through web-based attacks.