CVE-2019-0860 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 CVE ID is unique from CVE-2019-0806, CVE-2019-0810, CVE-2019-0812, CVE-2019-0829, CVE-2019-0861.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-0860 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine that enables remote code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects how the engine manages object handling in memory, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The Chakra engine serves as the JavaScript engine for Microsoft Edge and is responsible for interpreting and executing web scripts, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Chakra engine's object handling mechanisms. When processing certain JavaScript objects, the engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. This type of flaw falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The memory corruption occurs during the execution of JavaScript code that manipulates objects in ways that bypass normal safety checks, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations and potentially redirect execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments as it can be exploited through drive-by downloads or malicious websites that leverage the Chakra engine's JavaScript processing capabilities. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in Microsoft Edge, trigger the memory corruption condition and subsequently execute malicious code with the privileges of the Edge process. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the browser's core scripting engine, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise without requiring additional attack vectors or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based execution and T1203 for exploitation for execution.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying Microsoft's security patches as soon as they become available, as the vulnerability has been addressed through the Microsoft Edge security updates released in the February 2019 security bulletin. Network-level defenses should include web filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious JavaScript patterns, though these may not prevent all variants of the exploit. Browser hardening measures such as disabling JavaScript for untrusted sites, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing technologies can provide additional protection layers. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual JavaScript execution patterns and memory access anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping browser components updated and maintaining robust security hygiene practices to prevent exploitation of core engine vulnerabilities.