CVE-2018-0839 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Edge in Microsoft Windows 10 1703 allows information disclosure, due to how Edge handles objects in memory, aka "Microsoft Edge Information Disclosure Vulnerability". This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0763.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0839 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Edge browser when running on Windows 10 version 1703. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory objects within the browser's execution environment, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data exposure. The issue specifically affects the rendering engine and memory management systems that Edge employs to process web content, making it particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive information might be processed through the browser interface. Security researchers have classified this as a memory corruption vulnerability that could potentially allow attackers to extract sensitive data from memory regions that should remain protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's failure to properly validate or sanitize memory objects during the rendering process. When Edge processes certain web content that triggers specific memory allocation patterns, the browser's memory management system fails to properly isolate or secure memory regions containing sensitive information. This flaw enables attackers to potentially access data that should be restricted or encrypted, including user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential information that might be temporarily stored in memory during browser operations. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security architecture and memory management, where insufficient bounds checking or memory isolation mechanisms allow for unauthorized data access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0839 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other exploitation techniques. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive data from running browser processes, potentially leading to credential theft, session hijacking, or access to corporate information systems. The vulnerability's presence in Windows 10 1703 makes it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Edge is commonly used as the default browser, as it could provide attackers with persistent access to sensitive corporate data. This type of information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as the manufacturer has released specific fixes for this issue. Organizations should prioritize updating their Windows 10 systems to version 1703 or later, ensuring that all security patches are properly applied to eliminate the memory handling flaws. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions can help detect unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing features, disabling unnecessary browser extensions, and implementing strict content security policies can further reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms and regular vulnerability scanning to identify systems that may still be vulnerable to similar memory-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in browser security architectures and highlights the need for continuous security assessment of web rendering engines.