CVE-2018-8510 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-2018-8503, CVE-2018-8505, CVE-2018-8511, CVE-2018-8513.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-8510 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine, which serves as the JavaScript engine responsible for executing web content. This particular weakness allows attackers to manipulate how objects are handled in memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. The Chakra engine is integral to Microsoft Edge's functionality and is also utilized in ChakraCore, making this vulnerability impactful across multiple Microsoft products. The vulnerability specifically targets the engine's memory management mechanisms, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit improper object handling during script execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and memory management within the Chakra scripting engine's object handling routines. When Microsoft Edge processes JavaScript code containing maliciously crafted objects, the engine fails to properly validate memory operations, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption typically occurs during object allocation, deallocation, or manipulation processes where the engine does not adequately check bounds or validate object states. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious web pages that trigger specific memory access patterns, causing the engine to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-8510 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This makes it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios where users are unknowingly exposed to malicious content. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge browsers running on Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, with additional impacts on systems using ChakraCore as a standalone engine. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, establish persistence, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within a network environment.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security updates and patches released in August 2018 as part of the Microsoft Security Response. Browser hardening measures such as enabling Enhanced Protected Mode in Microsoft Edge, disabling scripting engines for untrusted sites, and implementing web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network connections, file modifications, or process creation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks and CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read conditions, highlighting the importance of memory safety in modern web browsers and the need for comprehensive security controls across all system components.