CVE-2019-0644 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Microsoft Edge, aka 'Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0590, CVE-2019-0591, CVE-2019-0593, CVE-2019-0605, CVE-2019-0607, CVE-2019-0610, CVE-2019-0640, CVE-2019-0642, CVE-2019-0651, CVE-2019-0652, CVE-2019-0655.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0644 represents a critical memory corruption issue within Microsoft Edge's scripting engine that enables remote code execution. This flaw specifically manifests when the engine processes objects in memory, creating conditions where malicious actors can manipulate memory structures to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine component of Microsoft Edge, which is responsible for interpreting and executing web scripts in the browser environment. Security researchers have classified this as a memory corruption vulnerability due to the nature of how the scripting engine manages object references and memory allocation during script execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages memory corruption patterns that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory regions or manipulate object pointers within the scripting engine's runtime environment. When Edge processes certain JavaScript constructs or handles specific memory operations, the engine fails to properly validate object states or memory boundaries, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious scripts that trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory management within the scripting engine's implementation. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the core level of the browser's execution environment, making it an ideal target for exploitation in zero-day attack scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected systems without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The remote code execution capability means that adversaries can deploy malware, establish backdoors, or perform data exfiltration directly from compromised endpoints. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge browsers running on Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, with the attack surface extending to any system where Edge is the default browser or where users are exposed to malicious web content. Organizations with legacy systems or those running older versions of Windows may face additional exposure as these platforms often lack the latest security mitigations. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-125 indicates it involves an out-of-bounds read condition, while its relationship to the ATT&CK framework places it within the T1059.007 technique category for scripting and T1203 for exploitation of remote services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-0644 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's security updates, as the company released patches specifically addressing this memory corruption issue in their regular security bulletin cycles. Organizations should implement network segmentation and web filtering controls to reduce exposure to malicious web content, while also enabling browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary JavaScript features and implementing strict content security policies. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, particularly unusual process creation patterns or network connections from Edge processes, and consider implementing exploit prevention mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. Additionally, regular security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browser software updated to protect against such memory corruption vulnerabilities that form the foundation of many modern exploitation techniques.