CVE-2018-0979 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the Chakra scripting engine handles objects in memory in Microsoft Edge, aka "Chakra Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Edge, ChakraCore. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0980, CVE-2018-0990, CVE-2018-0993, CVE-2018-0994, CVE-2018-0995, CVE-2018-1019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0979 represents a critical memory corruption issue within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine, which serves as the JavaScript engine responsible for executing web content. This flaw exists in how the engine manages object allocation and deallocation in memory, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code remotely. The Chakra engine is fundamental to Edge's operation as it processes JavaScript code from web pages, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Chakra engine's object handling mechanisms. When processing certain JavaScript objects, the engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries or object references, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. This memory corruption allows attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the browser by overwriting critical memory locations with malicious code. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the engine handles object lifecycle management and memory allocation patterns, which are core components of modern JavaScript engines.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise and individual users alike as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages that trigger the memory corruption when loaded in Microsoft Edge, potentially allowing them to gain full control over affected systems. The impact extends beyond simple browser compromise as successful exploitation could lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms being established. The vulnerability affects not only Microsoft Edge but also ChakraCore, which is used in various other Microsoft products and applications.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of established frameworks such as CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The attack patterns align with ATT&CK techniques involving initial access through malicious websites and privilege escalation via code execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, network-based protections, and user awareness training. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in scripting engines and highlights the need for continuous security testing of core browser components. Microsoft released patches addressing this vulnerability through regular security updates, emphasizing the importance of maintaining up-to-date systems to protect against such memory corruption exploits.