CVE-2016-7202 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
The scripting engines in Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and Microsoft Edge allow 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," as demonstrated by the Chakra JavaScript engine, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-7200, CVE-2016-7201, CVE-2016-7203, CVE-2016-7208, CVE-2016-7240, CVE-2016-7242, and CVE-2016-7243.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2025
The scripting engine memory corruption vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7202 represents a critical security flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 9 through 11 and Microsoft Edge browsers. This vulnerability specifically targets the Chakra JavaScript engine that powers these browsers, creating a pathway for remote code execution and denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted web content. The flaw demonstrates the inherent complexity and risk associated with modern browser scripting engines that must process and execute dynamic code from untrusted sources while maintaining memory safety and integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Chakra JavaScript engine's handling of specific JavaScript constructs. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages that trigger memory corruption conditions when the browser processes JavaScript code. The vulnerability manifests as heap corruption or stack overflow conditions that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised browser process. This type of flaw falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-122, stack-based buffer overflow, representing fundamental memory safety issues that have long been recognized as critical attack vectors in software security.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7202 extends beyond simple exploitation as it provides attackers with persistent access to victim systems through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed browser versions means that successful exploitation can affect millions of users across enterprise and consumer environments. This makes it particularly dangerous as attackers can leverage it in phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, or compromised website attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page. The vulnerability's classification within the ATT&CK framework places it under the T1059.007 technique for JavaScript execution, demonstrating how attackers can abuse legitimate browser capabilities for malicious purposes.
Organizations and security professionals must implement multiple layers of defense to protect against this vulnerability. Immediate remediation involves applying Microsoft security updates and patches that address the memory corruption issues in the Chakra engine. Browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary scripting features, implementing content security policies, and using sandboxing techniques can reduce the attack surface. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious JavaScript behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's similarity to other related CVEs in the same vulnerability family suggests that comprehensive patch management strategies should address all related scripting engine issues simultaneously to prevent attackers from exploiting multiple weaknesses within the same browser component.