CVE-2016-7287 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
The scripting engines in Microsoft Internet Explorer 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."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2025
The scripting engine memory corruption vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7287 represents a critical security flaw affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge browsers. This vulnerability resides within the JavaScript engine components that process web content, specifically targeting how these browsers handle memory allocation and management during script execution. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious web pages that can trigger memory corruption conditions when processed by the affected browsers, creating opportunities for remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex scripting engines that must handle numerous data types and memory operations while maintaining security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations within the browser's scripting engine. When processing crafted web content, the JavaScript engine fails to properly validate memory access patterns or bounds checking, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layouts through carefully constructed script code. This type of vulnerability typically manifests as heap corruption, stack overflow, or use-after-free conditions that can be exploited to gain arbitrary code execution privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common pathways for memory corruption exploits in browser environments. Attackers can leverage this weakness through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, phishing sites, or compromised advertisements that trigger the vulnerable code path when loaded in the affected browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7287 extends beyond simple exploitation capabilities to encompass significant security risks for enterprise and individual users. Organizations running affected browsers face potential compromise through drive-by download attacks where simply visiting a malicious website can result in system takeover. The vulnerability affects both Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge, representing a broad attack surface since these browsers were widely deployed across enterprise environments. Security researchers have documented this vulnerability as part of the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1203, which describes exploitation for execution through browser-based attacks. The memory corruption nature of the flaw makes it particularly dangerous because it can be used to bypass modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms. Additionally, the vulnerability can be combined with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack chains that may lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7287 require immediate action from organizations to protect their systems from exploitation attempts. Microsoft released security patches addressing this vulnerability through regular security updates, and organizations should ensure all affected systems receive these updates promptly. Browser vendors recommend enabling automatic updates to maintain protection against emerging threats. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, deploying sandboxing technologies, and configuring browser security settings to restrict potentially malicious content. Network-level protections such as content filtering and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening techniques that disable unnecessary scripting features and restrict memory access patterns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation paths and ensure their security controls remain effective against evolving threat landscapes.