CVE-2018-0998 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Microsoft Edge PDF Reader improperly handles objects in memory, aka "Microsoft Edge Information Disclosure Vulnerability." This affects Microsoft Edge. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0892.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0998 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Edge's PDF Reader component, specifically manifesting when the browser fails to properly manage memory objects during PDF document processing. This issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow maliciously crafted PDF files to trigger improper memory handling behaviors, potentially exposing sensitive data to unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge versions up to and including Windows 10 version 1709, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of the browser and its integration with Windows operating systems. The flaw demonstrates a classic memory corruption vulnerability pattern that has been documented in numerous security advisories, where improper object handling leads to information leakage.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the PDF Reader component's failure to properly validate and sanitize memory objects when processing complex PDF structures. When Edge encounters malformed or specially crafted PDF content, the memory management system does not adequately protect against information leakage through improper object disposal or memory access patterns. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and can be categorized as a memory safety issue that enables attackers to extract sensitive information from memory regions that should remain protected. The ATT&CK framework would classify this under T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and potentially T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as attackers could leverage this information disclosure to gain additional system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0998 extends beyond simple information leakage, as the vulnerability could potentially enable attackers to reconstruct sensitive data from memory dumps or exploit the information to facilitate further attacks. Attackers might leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential information that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within a network environment. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, typically involving the viewing of a malicious PDF document, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks. Organizations running affected versions of Microsoft Edge would face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where PDF documents are frequently processed and where users have access to sensitive corporate or personal data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying Microsoft's security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory handling issues in the PDF Reader component. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Microsoft Edge installations and consider implementing additional security controls such as PDF sandboxing, restricted browsing environments, and content filtering solutions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper memory management practices in browser components, as it represents a failure in the security architecture that could have been prevented through better input validation and memory protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing PDF processing workflows while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against this information disclosure vulnerability.