CVE-2018-8130 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-2018-0943, CVE-2018-8133, CVE-2018-8145, CVE-2018-8177.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-8130 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 specifically manifests when the engine processes certain objects in memory, creating conditions that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code remotely. The Chakra engine is fundamental to Edge's operation, handling JavaScript execution for web pages, web applications, and web-based services that users interact with daily. The vulnerability affects not only Microsoft Edge but also ChakraCore, which is Microsoft's open-source version of the Chakra engine used in various applications beyond the browser environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Chakra engine's object handling mechanisms. When processing specific JavaScript objects, the engine fails to properly validate or manage memory allocation and deallocation, leading to memory corruption that can be manipulated by attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes "Out-of-Bounds Read" conditions where an application reads data from memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious web content that, when executed in Edge, can overwrite memory regions and potentially redirect program execution to attacker-controlled code. The memory corruption occurs during object lifecycle management, particularly when objects are created, modified, or destroyed in ways that bypass normal validation checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to users of Microsoft Edge and any system running applications that utilize ChakraCore. Attackers can leverage this weakness through drive-by downloads, malicious websites, or compromised web content without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page. The remote code execution capability means that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where Edge is used for business applications, potentially compromising entire networks through a single compromised endpoint. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be particularly challenging to detect and exploit due to its memory-based nature, which can make traditional security controls less effective.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft's security patches and updates as soon as they become available, which address the underlying memory management issues in the Chakra engine. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as browser isolation technologies, web application firewalls, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious web traffic. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all components of the web ecosystem up to date, as ChakraCore is used in various Microsoft products beyond Edge including Office applications and Windows PowerShell. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript," emphasizing the need for comprehensive monitoring and protection of scripting environments that could be leveraged for remote code execution attacks.