CVE-2016-7296 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
The scripting engines in 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," a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-7286, CVE-2016-7288, and CVE-2016-7297.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2022
The scripting engine vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7296 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's JavaScript engine, specifically affecting the Chakra scripting engine used in the browser. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted web content, making it a significant threat to web browser security. The flaw resides in how the scripting engine handles memory allocation and management during JavaScript execution, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited without user interaction. Unlike related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-7286, CVE-2016-7288, and CVE-2016-7297, this particular vulnerability demonstrates distinct characteristics in its exploitation methods and memory corruption patterns. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read category, representing a memory safety issue that allows attackers to access memory locations beyond allocated boundaries, potentially leading to code execution or system instability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of modern browser security models where sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms are expected to prevent such exploits. The attack surface extends across all versions of Microsoft Edge that utilize the affected Chakra engine, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on Edge as their primary browser. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through browser-based scripting engines. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability directly relates to the security principle of memory safety and demonstrates the critical importance of proper bounds checking in interpreted languages. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in complete system compromise, as attackers could leverage the memory corruption to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the browser process. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation scenarios, especially when combined with other browser-based vulnerabilities. Organizations using Microsoft Edge should consider immediate mitigation strategies, including browser updates, network-based protections, and user education about avoiding untrusted web content. The vulnerability's nature suggests that attackers could develop sophisticated exploit chains that combine this memory corruption with other techniques to bypass modern security mitigations. This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in how the scripting engine manages memory resources, highlighting the complexity of secure browser implementation. The presence of similar vulnerabilities in the same software family indicates potential systemic issues in the Chakra engine's memory management subsystem. The security implications of this vulnerability extend to enterprise environments where Edge browsers are commonly used, making it a critical concern for IT security teams. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by visiting a malicious website. The technical analysis reveals that this vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing modern JavaScript engines that must balance performance with security. The memory corruption patterns observed in CVE-2016-7296 align with common exploitation techniques used in browser-based attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw places it within the highest severity categories, requiring immediate attention from security administrators. The exploit development for this vulnerability would likely involve creating specific JavaScript payloads that trigger the memory corruption through carefully crafted input sequences. Organizations should implement network-level protections and browser hardening measures to mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability. The vulnerability's characteristics suggest that it could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to full system compromise. The security community's response to this vulnerability highlights the importance of continuous security assessment and the need for robust memory safety mechanisms in browser implementations. The vulnerability's impact on user privacy and system integrity makes it a priority for immediate remediation across all affected Microsoft Edge installations.