CVE-2018-8359 in ChakraCore
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the ChakraCore scripting engine handles objects in memory, aka "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability." This affects ChakraCore. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2018-8353, CVE-2018-8355, CVE-2018-8371, CVE-2018-8372, CVE-2018-8373, CVE-2018-8385, CVE-2018-8389, CVE-2018-8390.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8359 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft's ChakraCore JavaScript engine, which serves as the core scripting component for various Microsoft products including Edge browser, Node.js applications, and Windows applications. This vulnerability specifically targets the engine's handling of objects in memory, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks that could be exploited by malicious actors. The ChakraCore engine is designed to optimize JavaScript performance through aggressive memory management techniques, but this particular flaw introduces instability in object allocation and deallocation processes that adversaries can leverage for malicious purposes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the ChakraCore engine's object handling mechanisms. When the engine processes certain JavaScript objects, it fails to properly validate memory boundaries during object operations, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. This flaw operates at a low level within the engine's memory management subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate JavaScript execution paths that appear benign to users. The vulnerability manifests when the engine encounters specific object manipulation patterns that cause memory corruption in ways that can be controlled by an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8359 extends beyond simple exploitation, as it provides attackers with a powerful remote code execution vector that can be leveraged across multiple Microsoft platforms and applications. The vulnerability affects not only the Edge browser but also any application that relies on ChakraCore for JavaScript execution, including Node.js applications and various Windows-based software products. This broad attack surface increases the potential for widespread compromise, as the vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks, malicious email attachments, or compromised websites that deliver malicious JavaScript code to unsuspecting users. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target victims without requiring local system access or physical presence.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the broader category of advanced persistent threat vectors that attackers can use to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability does not require user interaction to exploit in many scenarios, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where multiple applications may be running on the same infrastructure. Mitigation strategies should include network segmentation, application whitelisting, and monitoring for anomalous JavaScript execution patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability's distinction from related CVEs such as CVE-2018-8353 through CVE-2018-8390 highlights the complexity of Microsoft's scripting engine architecture and the need for comprehensive security assessments of all components within the ChakraCore ecosystem. These related vulnerabilities collectively demonstrate a pattern of memory management issues that require careful attention from both security researchers and application developers. The unique nature of CVE-2018-8359, while sharing the same root cause category, indicates that Microsoft's ChakraCore implementation contains multiple pathways for similar memory corruption scenarios, emphasizing the importance of robust memory safety mechanisms in high-performance scripting engines. Organizations should implement layered security approaches that include regular security updates, code review processes, and threat monitoring to protect against exploitation of these types of vulnerabilities.