CVE-2018-8123 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-2018-1021.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8123 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Edge browser software that stems from improper memory management during object handling operations. This weakness allows malicious actors to potentially extract sensitive data from the browser's memory space through carefully crafted web content that triggers the flawed memory handling mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts Microsoft Edge versions prior to the security updates released in August 2018, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this browser for their daily operations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory corruption vulnerabilities that fall under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and can be classified as a type of information disclosure vulnerability that enables unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Microsoft Edge processes certain web objects that contain memory references or pointers that are not properly validated or sanitized before being used in subsequent operations. When the browser encounters malformed or maliciously constructed content, the memory management subsystem fails to properly handle the object references, potentially leading to information leakage through memory dumps or other data exposure mechanisms. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring local system access, making it an attractive target for remote attackers seeking to gather sensitive information from compromised systems. The flaw operates at the browser's rendering engine level and can potentially expose data from other applications running in the same memory space or from previously accessed web pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8123 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked data could potentially include session tokens, user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data that could be leveraged for further attacks. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities, gather intelligence about targeted users, or establish persistent access to systems through the information obtained from memory dumps. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, typically through visiting a malicious website or opening a specially crafted email attachment containing web content that triggers the flawed memory handling code. This makes it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, potentially leading to widespread information breaches across organizational networks.
Organizations should immediately implement the security patches provided by Microsoft as part of their August 2018 security updates to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these updates across all affected Microsoft Edge installations, particularly in environments where users have elevated privileges or access to sensitive systems. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious content, configuring browser security policies to restrict memory access, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with tactics described in the attack pattern framework under the MITRE ATT&CK matrix, specifically relating to information gathering and credential access techniques. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or data exfiltration attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, and security teams should maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to track related attack campaigns targeting this specific weakness.