CVE-2018-8266 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-2018-8380, CVE-2018-8381, CVE-2018-8384.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-8266 represents a critical memory corruption issue within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine, which serves as the JavaScript engine powering the browser's web content execution. This flaw enables remote code execution when malicious actors craft specially designed web pages that exploit how the engine manages object memory allocation and deallocation. The vulnerability specifically manifests during the handling of objects in memory, creating conditions where arbitrary code can be executed on affected systems without user interaction. The Chakra engine's memory management mechanisms fail to properly validate object references, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that adversaries can leverage for privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through sophisticated crafting of JavaScript code that triggers specific memory corruption patterns within the Chakra engine's object handling routines. When Microsoft Edge processes malicious web content containing crafted JavaScript, the engine's memory management routines become compromised, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or execute arbitrary code within the browser's execution context. This memory corruption vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability class, which represents out-of-bounds read conditions, and can also be categorized under CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions. The attack vector typically involves web-based exploitation where users visit compromised websites or click on malicious links that deliver the exploit payload directly to the vulnerable Chakra engine.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8266 extends beyond simple browser compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system takeover through privilege escalation and lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, steal sensitive data, or establish command and control channels without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges initially. The vulnerability affects not only Microsoft Edge but also ChakraCore, which is Microsoft's open-source JavaScript engine used in various applications and services, expanding the potential attack surface significantly. Organizations using Edge browsers or applications built on ChakraCore are at risk, particularly in environments where users may encounter malicious web content through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where browser-based attacks are common.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8266 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft's security patches and updates, which address the memory corruption issues within the Chakra engine through improved object validation and memory management routines. Network administrators should implement web filtering solutions and browser hardening measures to reduce exposure to malicious web content, while security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1068 for exploit development, making it important for security operations centers to track these techniques. Additionally, implementing sandboxing technologies, disabling unnecessary browser features, and maintaining updated security software can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Edge or ChakraCore, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing browser-based memory corruption vulnerabilities to ensure rapid response to potential exploitation attempts.