CVE-2018-1025 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when affected Microsoft browsers improperly handle objects in memory, aka "Microsoft Browser Information Disclosure Vulnerability." This affects Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2023
The CVE-2018-1025 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Microsoft browsers that stems from improper memory object handling within the browser's rendering engine. This vulnerability specifically impacts Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge browsers, creating a pathway for attackers to extract sensitive information from memory structures. The flaw occurs when browsers fail to properly validate or sanitize memory objects during normal operation, potentially exposing confidential data that should remain protected within the browser's memory space.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which focuses on data from local system. The technical implementation involves memory corruption patterns where browser components do not adequately protect memory regions containing sensitive data structures. When affected browsers process certain web content, they may inadvertently expose memory addresses, heap contents, or other internal browser data that could reveal information about the system's memory layout or internal state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents could potentially contain session tokens, user credentials, or other sensitive data that attackers could leverage for further exploitation. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that trigger the vulnerable code path, causing the browser to expose memory contents that would normally be protected. This creates a significant risk for users who browse untrusted websites, as simply visiting a compromised page could result in information leakage that could be used for credential theft or privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1025 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the vulnerability was addressed through the Microsoft Security Response Center's coordinated release. Organizations should also implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and deploying network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block exploitation attempts. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or information disclosure attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patched browsers properly handle memory objects without exposing sensitive information, while also maintaining awareness of potential indirect exploitation vectors that could arise from the information leakage.