CVE-2016-7190 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-2016-3386, CVE-2016-3389, and CVE-2016-7194.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7190 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 exploit the system through maliciously crafted web content. The Chakra engine is responsible for compiling and executing JavaScript code in real-time, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to leverage browser-based exploits. The vulnerability manifests when the engine fails to properly validate memory operations during JavaScript execution, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption states that can be manipulated by attackers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the Chakra JavaScript engine's memory management subsystem, which operates under the broader context of browser security models and sandboxing mechanisms. When processing specially crafted JavaScript code, the engine's memory allocation and deallocation routines fail to maintain proper bounds checking, allowing attackers to manipulate memory pointers or overwrite critical data structures. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the intersection of JavaScript interpretation and memory management, where the engine's failure to properly validate memory operations creates a persistent attack surface that can be exploited across different execution contexts within the browser environment.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise and individual users alike, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability through drive-by downloads or compromised websites, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users browse untrusted content. The memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability can result in both arbitrary code execution and denial of service conditions, providing attackers with multiple attack vectors and potential persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability's relationship to other related CVEs such as CVE-2016-3386, CVE-2016-3389, and CVE-2016-7194 demonstrates that this represents part of a broader class of memory corruption issues affecting the Chakra engine, suggesting that similar vulnerabilities may exist within the same codebase and requiring comprehensive patching approaches.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across multiple threat vectors within the Microsoft Edge browser environment, including web-based attacks, social engineering campaigns, and potentially advanced persistent threat scenarios. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can gain elevated privileges on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of backdoors. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and execution through browser-based attacks, where the initial compromise occurs through web-based exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing browser isolation techniques, network-based intrusion detection systems, and comprehensive patch management strategies to address this vulnerability. The remediation approach should include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates, implementation of browser hardening measures, and consideration of alternative browser solutions for high-risk environments. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks that target fundamental components of web browsers.