CVE-2017-0208 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in Microsoft Edge when the Chakra scripting engine does not properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could obtain information to further compromise the user's system, a.k.a. "Scripting Engine Information Disclosure Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0208 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine, which forms the core JavaScript execution environment for the browser. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory handling issues that can lead to sensitive data exposure, with implications extending far beyond simple information leakage. The Chakra engine is responsible for executing JavaScript code within Microsoft Edge, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain deeper system access through information gathering.
The technical nature of this flaw involves improper handling of objects in memory, specifically within the Chakra scripting engine's memory management subsystem. When the engine processes certain JavaScript objects, it fails to properly validate or sanitize memory references, creating potential information disclosure channels. This type of vulnerability is classified as a CWE-200 Information Disclosure, where the system inadvertently reveals sensitive information to unauthorized parties. The flaw manifests when the scripting engine attempts to access or manipulate memory objects without adequate bounds checking or memory validation mechanisms, potentially exposing memory addresses, internal data structures, or other sensitive information stored in memory.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to gather sufficient information to facilitate further compromise of the user's system. The disclosed information might include memory layout details, pointer values, or other internal state information that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks such as heap spraying, return-oriented programming, or other advanced exploitation techniques. This information disclosure creates a pathway for attackers to bypass security mitigations like address space layout randomization and data execution prevention, as the leaked memory information helps adversaries craft more effective attacks against the target system. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where Microsoft Edge is widely deployed, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access or escalate privileges through more sophisticated attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the flaw affects the core browser functionality and represents a direct threat to user security. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline memory access patterns to identify anomalous behavior. The vulnerability's classification as a scripting engine information disclosure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for PowerShell and JavaScript, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint detection and response capabilities. Additionally, browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing strict content security policies, and maintaining updated security configurations can reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as heap isolation and enhanced memory sanitization to prevent exploitation attempts and limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future.