CVE-2019-0678 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when Microsoft Edge does not properly enforce cross-domain policies, which could allow an attacker to access information from one domain and inject it into another domain.In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website that is used to attempt to exploit the vulnerability, aka 'Microsoft Edge Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
The CVE-2019-0678 vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw in Microsoft Edge browser that stems from improper enforcement of cross-domain policies. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category, which encompasses "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to inadequate access control mechanisms. The flaw exists within the browser's security model where domain isolation principles are not properly maintained, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass security boundaries that should prevent information leakage between different web domains.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the browser's handling of cross-origin resource sharing and security boundaries. When Microsoft Edge processes web content from different domains, it fails to adequately validate or enforce the security policies that normally prevent one domain from accessing or injecting data into another domain's context. This weakness allows an attacker to craft malicious web pages that can manipulate the browser's security sandbox, enabling unauthorized information access and potential data injection attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the browser's ability to maintain proper isolation between different security contexts, which is fundamental to web security architecture.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users who browse the internet with Microsoft Edge, particularly in environments where sensitive data is handled. Attackers can leverage this flaw through web-based attack vectors by hosting malicious websites that exploit the cross-domain policy enforcement gaps. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential data manipulation and privilege escalation within the browser's security model. Users may unknowingly encounter compromised websites that exploit this vulnerability, leading to unauthorized access to their browsing sessions and potential exposure of sensitive information.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily web-based, making it particularly dangerous in scenarios where users interact with untrusted websites or receive malicious content through email or other web delivery mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised browser to execute malicious code. Mitigation strategies include applying Microsoft's security patches promptly, implementing browser security enhancements such as strict content security policies, and deploying network-level protections. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious cross-domain activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security implementations and demonstrates how seemingly minor policy enforcement gaps can create significant security risks in modern web browsers.