CVE-2019-0648 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists when Chakra improperly discloses the contents of its memory, which could provide an attacker with information to further compromise the user's computer or data.To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker must know the memory address of where the object was created.The update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way certain functions handle objects in memory, aka Scripting Engine Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0658.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0648 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft's Chakra JavaScript engine, which serves as the core scripting component in Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge browsers. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that can lead to severe security implications when exploited by malicious actors. The Chakra engine is responsible for executing JavaScript code in Microsoft's web browsers, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be leveraged to extract sensitive data from memory locations that should remain protected.
The technical flaw in CVE-2019-0648 stems from improper memory management practices within the scripting engine where certain objects are not adequately sanitized before their memory contents are accessed or exposed. Specifically, when Chakra handles objects in memory, it fails to properly clear or protect sensitive data that might remain in memory locations after objects have been destroyed or modified. This creates a scenario where attackers could potentially read memory addresses that contain previously stored information, including potentially sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application-specific information. The vulnerability requires attackers to have knowledge of specific memory addresses where objects were originally created, indicating that while the attack vector is complex, it is not entirely impossible to exploit in targeted scenarios.
The operational impact of this information disclosure vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as the leaked memory contents could provide attackers with critical information needed for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially reconstruct sensitive data structures, identify application logic patterns, or even discover additional vulnerabilities within the same system. This type of information disclosure aligns with CWE-200, which describes the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and represents a significant risk to user privacy and system security. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users might be browsing untrusted websites or where attackers could leverage the information to perform more advanced exploitation techniques.
Microsoft's patch for CVE-2019-0648 addresses the root cause by modifying how certain functions within the Chakra engine handle object memory management. The update ensures that memory locations containing sensitive information are properly cleared or protected before objects are destroyed, preventing potential information leakage. This fix aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, which covers data from local system, and represents a critical defensive measure against information disclosure attacks. The remediation approach specifically targets the memory handling mechanisms that were previously vulnerable, making it an important update for maintaining browser security. Organizations should prioritize this patch deployment as it directly addresses a vulnerability that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, particularly in scenarios where users interact with potentially malicious web content. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2019-0658 demonstrates that Microsoft was addressing multiple related issues within the same Chakra engine, highlighting the systemic nature of the underlying memory management problems that required comprehensive remediation across the scripting engine's functionality.