CVE-2017-8611 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Edge on Microsoft Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, and 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allows remote attackers to spoof web content via a crafted web site, aka "Microsoft Edge Spoofing Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2022
The Microsoft Edge Spoofing Vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8611 represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft Edge browser across multiple Windows operating system versions including Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-693 category of Protection Mechanism Failure, specifically targeting the browser's ability to properly validate and display web content. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the browser's rendering engine to display misleading or falsified web content that can deceive users into believing they are visiting legitimate websites. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the browser's security model and user trust mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this spoofing vulnerability exploits weaknesses in Edge's content rendering and validation processes, particularly in how the browser handles certain HTML elements and CSS properties that control page appearance and navigation indicators. Attackers can craft malicious websites that manipulate the browser's address bar, title bar, or other visual elements to display false information while maintaining the appearance of legitimate sites. The vulnerability leverages the browser's trust model where certain visual cues are used to establish user confidence in the authenticity of web pages, allowing attackers to bypass these security mechanisms through carefully crafted web content that exploits the browser's rendering inconsistencies.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8611 extends beyond simple content manipulation to potentially enable sophisticated phishing attacks, credential theft, and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to create convincing replicas of legitimate banking, social media, or corporate websites, tricking users into entering sensitive information. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering through spearphishing, and T1071.001 which covers application layer protocol usage. Organizations using affected Windows versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently visit malicious sites through email attachments, web browsing, or compromised websites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft security updates and patches released in the August 2017 security bulletin. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious content. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can identify and block known malicious domains and content patterns associated with spoofing attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against multiple attack vectors. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of verifying website authenticity through multiple means beyond visual appearance, including checking URL structure, certificate validation, and using security extensions that can detect and alert users to potential spoofing attempts.