CVE-2017-8750 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Internet Explorer in Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer in Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, and Windows Server 2016 allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user due to the way that Microsoft browsers access objects in memory, aka "Microsoft Browser Memory Corruption Vulnerability".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8750 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge browsers. This issue stems from how these browsers handle object access in memory, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of Microsoft operating systems including Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and various Windows 10 versions including Gold, 1511, 1607, and 1703, along with Windows Server 2016. The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that have been historically exploited for privilege escalation and code execution attacks.
The underlying technical mechanism involves improper handling of memory objects during browser operations, specifically when Internet Explorer and Edge attempt to manage and access various object types in memory. When these browsers process certain web content or JavaScript code, they fail to properly validate or sanitize memory access patterns, leading to potential buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory-related issues. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate memory contents in ways that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations or inject malicious code. The vulnerability operates at the browser level where memory management becomes compromised during object lifecycle operations, creating opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8750 is substantial as it enables remote code execution attacks that can be delivered through malicious web pages or compromised websites. An attacker could craft web content that, when viewed in a vulnerable browser, triggers the memory corruption behavior and subsequently executes malicious code on the target system. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the current user, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to perform actions such as installing malware, modifying system files, accessing sensitive data, or establishing persistence mechanisms. The broad compatibility across multiple Windows versions and browser implementations makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to maximize their attack surface.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patch management for all affected systems, as Microsoft released security updates addressing this vulnerability through the regular security bulletin process. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious traffic patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions that can occur during memory corruption scenarios. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving execution through web browsers and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistent access and move laterally within compromised networks. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual outbound connections that might indicate successful exploitation attempts.