CVE-2017-11912 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
ChakraCore, and Internet Explorer in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 and R2 SP1, Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, and Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, and Windows Server 2016 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-2017-11886, CVE-2017-11889, CVE-2017-11890, CVE-2017-11893, CVE-2017-11894, CVE-2017-11895, CVE-2017-11901, CVE-2017-11903, CVE-2017-11905, CVE-2017-11905, CVE-2017-11907, CVE-2017-11908, CVE-2017-11909, CVE-2017-11910, CVE-2017-11911, 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 CVE-2017-11912 vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft's ChakraCore JavaScript engine and Internet Explorer implementations across multiple Windows operating systems. This vulnerability specifically targets how the scripting engine manages object memory allocation and deallocation, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The flaw exists in the fundamental memory management mechanisms that govern how JavaScript objects are stored and accessed in memory, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attacks or malicious documents.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues, which are classified as CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The flaw manifests when the ChakraCore engine improperly handles certain object references during memory operations, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious scripts or documents that trigger specific memory access patterns, causing the engine to corrupt memory regions and potentially execute attacker-controlled code. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because it operates at the core level of the scripting engine, affecting not just individual applications but entire operating system components that rely on JavaScript execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11912 is significant as it enables privilege escalation attacks that can compromise user accounts and potentially lead to full system compromise. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute code with the same privileges as the current user, which can result in data theft, system infiltration, or further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Microsoft products including Internet Explorer versions across Windows 7 through Windows 10, as well as Microsoft Edge on various Windows Server editions. This broad scope makes it particularly attractive to threat actors who can target multiple platforms with a single exploit vector.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to several techniques including T1059.007 for script-based execution and T1068 for local privilege escalation. The attack chain typically involves initial compromise through phishing emails containing malicious Office documents or web pages, followed by exploitation of the memory corruption flaw to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense including regular patch management, network segmentation, email filtering, and user education programs. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all Microsoft products updated, as the flaw affects both legacy Windows versions and newer releases, demonstrating how memory corruption vulnerabilities can persist across multiple product generations and operating system versions.
Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates that corrected the memory management handling within the ChakraCore engine, requiring immediate deployment across affected systems. The fix involved modifying how the scripting engine processes object references and memory allocation patterns to prevent the corruption conditions that enabled exploitation. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment as this vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild, with threat actors leveraging it for initial access and privilege escalation in targeted attacks against enterprise environments. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of delayed remediation efforts in enterprise security management.