CVE-2017-11792 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
ChakraCore and Microsoft Edge in Microsoft Windows 10 1703 allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user, due to how the scripting engine handles objects in memory, aka "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2017-11793, CVE-2017-11796, CVE-2017-11798, CVE-2017-11799, CVE-2017-11800, CVE-2017-11801, CVE-2017-11802, CVE-2017-11804, CVE-2017-11805, CVE-2017-11806, CVE-2017-11807, CVE-2017-11808, CVE-2017-11809, CVE-2017-11810, CVE-2017-11811, CVE-2017-11812, and CVE-2017-11821.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2021
This vulnerability resides within Microsoft ChakraCore JavaScript engine and Microsoft Edge browser implementation on Windows 10 version 1703 systems, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution. The issue stems from improper handling of objects in memory during JavaScript execution, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory structures and ultimately execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The vulnerability specifically affects the scripting engine's memory management routines where objects are allocated, accessed, and deallocated, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be exploited through crafted malicious JavaScript code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory corruption issues typically arise when the JavaScript engine fails to properly validate object boundaries during memory operations, allowing attackers to craft malicious input that triggers unintended memory access patterns. The vulnerability's exploitation requires careful manipulation of JavaScript objects to overwrite memory locations, often leveraging techniques such as heap spraying or object reuse to achieve reliable code execution. Attackers can leverage this flaw by delivering malicious web content that when processed by the affected browser or scripting engine triggers the memory corruption, potentially leading to full system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where Windows 10 1703 systems are deployed, as it allows attackers to execute code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation since the attacker can leverage this initial foothold to perform further reconnaissance, establish persistence mechanisms, and potentially move laterally within the network. The vulnerability's presence in both ChakraCore and Microsoft Edge means that exploitation can occur through various attack vectors including malicious websites, phishing emails containing HTML attachments, or compromised web applications that execute JavaScript code. Security researchers have noted that the exploitability of such memory corruption vulnerabilities often depends on memory layout and exploit mitigation technologies, making the actual attack surface more complex than initially apparent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, as Microsoft released security updates specifically addressing this issue in their monthly security bulletin. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls, content security policies, and browser hardening configurations that limit JavaScript execution capabilities. The use of exploit protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization, data execution prevention, and controlled folder access can provide additional layers of defense. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual JavaScript execution patterns or memory access anomalies, and consider implementing network-based detection measures that can identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all Windows 10 systems, as similar memory corruption vulnerabilities continue to be discovered in modern browser engines, making regular patch management a critical security control.