CVE-2016-7194 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-2016-7190.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The CVE-2016-7194 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra JavaScript engine that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through malicious web content. This vulnerability specifically targets the scripting engine component that handles JavaScript processing in the browser environment, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited simply by visiting a compromised website. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that occurs during JavaScript execution, allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. Unlike other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-3386, CVE-2016-3389, and CVE-2016-7190, this particular vulnerability maintains its own distinct characteristics and exploitation vectors within the Chakra engine's memory management subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the Chakra JavaScript engine's execution environment. When processing certain JavaScript constructs, the engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries or handle object references, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious JavaScript code that triggers buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios. The vulnerability typically occurs during dynamic memory allocation or deallocation processes where the engine's memory management routines do not adequately protect against malformed input or unexpected execution paths. This flaw can be particularly insidious because JavaScript engines often perform complex memory optimizations and garbage collection processes that can be exploited when memory boundaries are not properly enforced.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2016-7194 extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass significant security risks for enterprise and individual users alike. The vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers to gain full system control through remote code execution, potentially allowing for data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or persistent backdoor installation. The ease of exploitation through simple web browsing means that users may inadvertently encounter malicious sites without recognizing the threat, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised website scenarios. Additionally, the denial of service component of the vulnerability can be used to disrupt services or cause browser crashes, which may be employed in distributed denial of service attacks or to mask more sophisticated exploitation attempts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including prompt application of Microsoft security updates, deployment of web application firewalls, and network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Browser isolation techniques and sandboxing measures can provide additional protection layers, while security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted websites. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, while also mapping to CWE categories related to memory safety issues such as CWE-119 for memory corruption and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be updated to address this specific threat vector within the Chakra engine's memory management processes.