CVE-2018-8465 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-2018-8367, CVE-2018-8466, CVE-2018-8467.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-8465 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine that enables remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets how the Chakra engine manages object handling in memory, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The flaw exists in the JavaScript engine's memory management routines where improper object handling can result in memory corruption that adversaries can leverage to execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted user.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Chakra engine's object model implementation. When processing certain JavaScript objects, the engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries or object references, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. This memory corruption can occur during normal JavaScript execution flows when the engine processes complex object interactions or performs memory operations on improperly validated objects. The vulnerability manifests when the engine attempts to manipulate objects in ways that exceed allocated memory boundaries or access freed memory regions, creating opportunities for attackers to inject and execute malicious code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Microsoft Edge users and organizations relying on the browser for web-based operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw by hosting malicious web content that triggers the vulnerable code path when users browse to compromised websites. The remote execution capability means that no local user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site is required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter compromised web content. The vulnerability affects not only Microsoft Edge but also ChakraCore, indicating the widespread impact across Microsoft's JavaScript engine implementations.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser exploitation to include potential escalation paths within compromised systems. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation through browser-based attacks. The memory corruption nature aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, security policy enforcement, and network-based protections such as web application firewalls to prevent exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include applying Microsoft's security patches promptly, implementing browser hardening configurations, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates layered defensive approaches including browser isolation, network segmentation, and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing exploit prevention mechanisms and monitoring for anomalous JavaScript execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of the vulnerability and its potential for widespread impact, comprehensive security posture improvements should be prioritized to reduce the risk of successful exploitation across all affected Microsoft Edge implementations and ChakraCore deployments.