CVE-2018-8290 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-2018-8280, CVE-2018-8286, CVE-2018-8294.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-8290 represents a critical memory corruption issue within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine, which serves as the JavaScript engine powering the browser's execution environment. This flaw specifically manifests when the engine processes objects in memory, creating conditions that could be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability impacts not only Microsoft Edge but also ChakraCore, which is Microsoft's open-source JavaScript engine used in various applications beyond the browser. The Chakra engine's handling of memory objects becomes compromised when certain JavaScript operations are performed, leading to potential exploitation through crafted malicious web content that triggers the memory corruption state.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can occur when memory access operations exceed the bounds of allocated memory regions. The flaw likely stems from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory management within the Chakra engine's object handling mechanisms. When malicious JavaScript code is executed in a web page, it can manipulate memory objects in ways that cause the engine to access invalid memory locations or corrupt existing memory structures. This type of memory corruption vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to overwrite critical memory segments, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the compromised browser process.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8290 is severe given that it affects one of the most widely used browsers globally and enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through drive-by downloads or compromised websites, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content. The vulnerability's exploitation could result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The fact that this vulnerability affects both Microsoft Edge and ChakraCore means that the attack surface extends beyond just web browsing to include any application that utilizes the Chakra engine for JavaScript execution.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft's security patches and updates to address the memory corruption issue. Browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing features, disabling unnecessary JavaScript capabilities, and implementing content security policies can reduce the exploitation risk. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious JavaScript patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments focusing on the Chakra engine and ensure that all systems using Microsoft Edge or applications built on ChakraCore are kept up to date with security patches. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for JavaScript and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection strategies that monitor for both the initial exploitation vectors and subsequent malicious activities that may follow successful exploitation of this memory corruption flaw.