CVE-2018-0892 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Microsoft Edge improperly handles objects in memory, aka "Microsoft Edge Information Disclosure Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Edge. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0998.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0892 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Edge browser that stems from improper memory management during object handling operations. This issue allows attackers to potentially extract sensitive information from the browser's memory space through carefully crafted malicious web content. The vulnerability specifically manifests when Edge processes certain objects in memory without adequate safeguards, creating opportunities for unauthorized data exposure that could compromise user privacy and system security.
From a technical perspective, this information disclosure vulnerability operates at the memory management level where Microsoft Edge fails to properly validate or sanitize object references during processing operations. The flaw typically occurs when the browser encounters malformed or unexpected object structures that trigger memory access patterns which inadvertently expose internal data structures, memory addresses, or other sensitive information to the attacker. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues and can be classified as a CWE-200 - Information Exposure, where sensitive data is unintentionally revealed during normal operation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the browser level where users interact with potentially malicious web content, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0892 extends beyond simple data exposure, as the leaked information could potentially be used to facilitate more sophisticated attacks or to aid in bypassing security mechanisms. Attackers could leverage the information disclosure to gather browser memory layouts, internal object structures, or other sensitive data that might aid in crafting more effective exploitation techniques. This vulnerability particularly affects the browser's security model and could potentially enable attackers to gather information that would otherwise be protected by normal browser security boundaries. The risk is amplified when considering that Edge users may encounter malicious content through phishing attacks, compromised websites, or drive-by downloads, making the exploitation vector quite broad.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application from Microsoft as the primary defense mechanism, since the flaw exists within the browser's core memory management functionality. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser security policies that include regular updates and monitoring for security patches, alongside user education about avoiding suspicious web content. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of defense by blocking known malicious content patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving information gathering and privilege escalation, as the information disclosure could potentially be leveraged to gather intelligence about the target system's memory layout for subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and memory safety mechanisms that should be implemented throughout browser development processes to prevent similar issues from occurring in future releases.