CVE-2018-8249 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists when Internet Explorer improperly accesses objects in memory, aka "Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability." This affects Internet Explorer 11. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-0978.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-8249 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 that enables remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the browser fails to properly handle object references in memory, creating exploitable conditions that adversaries can leverage to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw resides in the browser's memory management mechanisms and object handling routines, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities without any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations beyond their allocated bounds. In the context of Internet Explorer, this manifests when the browser attempts to access memory objects that have been freed or improperly allocated, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how JavaScript objects and memory segments are managed during page execution, which makes it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on Internet Explorer 11 for business operations. Attackers can exploit this flaw by hosting malicious web content that triggers the memory corruption when users browse to compromised websites, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that adversaries can target users without requiring local access or specific user actions beyond visiting malicious sites, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter such content through email links, web browsing, or infected websites. The attack surface is broad as it affects all Windows systems running Internet Explorer 11, including both desktop and server environments where the browser may be used for administrative tasks.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates. Organizations should also consider implementing browser isolation techniques, network segmentation, and enhanced web filtering solutions to prevent access to potentially malicious content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203, which describes exploitation for privilege escalation through memory corruption attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures. Additionally, implementing strict browser security policies, disabling unnecessary browser features, and conducting regular security assessments can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation. Organizations should also consider migrating away from Internet Explorer 11 to more modern browsers that have better security track records and more frequent security updates, as this vulnerability represents one of the last major security issues affecting the legacy browser platform.