CVE-2017-11873 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
ChakraCore and Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server, version 1709 allows an attacker to gain the same user rights as 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-2017-11836, CVE-2017-11837, CVE-2017-11838, CVE-2017-11839, CVE-2017-11840, CVE-2017-11841, CVE-2017-11843, CVE-2017-11846, CVE-2017-11858, CVE-2017-11859, CVE-2017-11861, CVE-2017-11862, CVE-2017-11866, CVE-2017-11869, CVE-2017-11870, and CVE-2017-11871.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2024
The scripting engine memory corruption vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11873 affects Microsoft ChakraCore and Microsoft Edge across multiple Windows 10 versions including 1511, 1607, 1703, and 1709, as well as Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server version 1709. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to escalate privileges and execute code with the same user rights as the current user. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects in memory by the scripting engine component, specifically within the ChakraCore JavaScript engine that powers Microsoft Edge and other applications. The flaw manifests when the engine processes certain objects in memory, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability is distinct from several other related issues including CVE-2017-11836 through CVE-2017-11871, each representing separate memory corruption flaws in the same engine component. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and is categorized under the broader class of memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk as it allows local privilege escalation attacks where an attacker with minimal privileges can potentially gain full user rights. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious web content or scripts that trigger the memory corruption when processed by the vulnerable ChakraCore engine, enabling remote code execution or privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects the fundamental operation of Microsoft Edge and other applications that utilize ChakraCore for JavaScript execution, making it particularly dangerous in web browsing scenarios. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials and privileges, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter techniques. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can potentially enable attackers to establish persistent access, escalate to system-level privileges, or deploy additional malicious payloads. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying security patches from Microsoft, disabling unnecessary JavaScript functionality where possible, and implementing network monitoring to detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure memory management in scripting engines and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of memory handling operations in complex software components. Security teams should prioritize this vulnerability for remediation due to its potential for remote code execution and privilege escalation capabilities.