CVE-2017-11905 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
ChakraCore and Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, and Windows Server 2016 allows 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-2017-11886, CVE-2017-11889, CVE-2017-11890, CVE-2017-11893, CVE-2017-11894, CVE-2017-11895, CVE-2017-11901, CVE-2017-11903, CVE-2017-11907, CVE-2017-11908, CVE-2017-11909, CVE-2017-11910, CVE-2017-11911, CVE-2017-11912, CVE-2017-11913, CVE-2017-11914, CVE-2017-11916, CVE-2017-11918, and CVE-2017-11930.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11905 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft's ChakraCore JavaScript engine and Microsoft Edge browser implementation. This issue affects multiple Windows 10 versions including 1511, 1607, 1703, and 1709, as well as Windows Server 2016, creating a widespread attack surface across enterprise and consumer environments. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects in memory by the scripting engine, which creates opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This particular flaw is distinct from several other vulnerabilities in the same CVE family, indicating a unique code path and exploitation vector that requires specific mitigation approaches.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in how the ChakraCore engine manages memory allocation and object references during JavaScript execution. When processing certain malformed or crafted input, the engine fails to properly validate object boundaries and memory operations, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by malicious actors. This memory corruption typically manifests through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management flaws that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory regions. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser scripting and system-level memory management, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attack vectors.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations as it enables privilege escalation attacks without requiring administrative privileges. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or documents that, when opened by a victim, trigger the memory corruption in the ChakraCore engine, allowing code execution in the user context. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable further exploitation, such as privilege escalation to system-level access or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Windows versions means that organizations must implement comprehensive patch management strategies across their entire infrastructure to maintain security posture.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The attack patterns align with ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should implement layered defenses including browser hardening, network segmentation, and user education to reduce the likelihood of exploitation. Microsoft released patches for this vulnerability through regular security updates, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of continuous security monitoring and incident response capabilities to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts in real-time environments.