CVE-2019-1052 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-2019-0989, CVE-2019-0991, CVE-2019-0992, CVE-2019-0993, CVE-2019-1002, CVE-2019-1003, CVE-2019-1024, CVE-2019-1051.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-1052 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 potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems through maliciously crafted web pages. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of objects in memory during script execution, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory structures and gain unauthorized system access. The Chakra engine processes JavaScript code that runs within the browser environment, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific JavaScript code that triggers memory corruption when the Chakra engine processes certain object references. The vulnerability specifically affects how the engine manages memory allocation and deallocation for JavaScript objects, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite memory locations or execute malicious code through buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. This type of memory corruption vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be triggered through standard web browsing activities, making it difficult to defend against through traditional security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1052 extends beyond simple browser exploitation, as it can enable attackers to perform lateral movement within networks and escalate privileges on compromised systems. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge versions that utilize the Chakra scripting engine, including various Windows 10 and Windows Server releases. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution." The flaw can be leveraged as part of broader attack chains where initial compromise occurs through web-based delivery mechanisms, followed by privilege escalation and persistence establishment. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping browser components updated, as the Chakra engine is regularly patched to address such memory corruption issues.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1052 should include immediate deployment of Microsoft's security patches and updates to the Chakra scripting engine. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing content security policies, and using sandboxing technologies to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network segmentation and web filtering solutions can help prevent access to malicious websites that might contain exploit code. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual JavaScript execution patterns and memory access anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential attack vectors that could leverage similar memory corruption weaknesses. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing memory safety mechanisms in browser engine development to prevent similar issues from arising in future versions.