CVE-2019-1335 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-2019-1307, CVE-2019-1308, CVE-2019-1366.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-1335 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Microsoft Edge's Chakra scripting engine that enables remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the Chakra engine processes objects in memory, creating conditions that allow attackers to manipulate memory structures and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The Chakra engine serves as the JavaScript engine powering Microsoft Edge's web browser functionality, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Chakra scripting engine's object handling mechanisms. When processing certain JavaScript objects, the engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries or object references, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer. The memory corruption occurs during normal JavaScript execution scenarios, making exploitation relatively straightforward for threat actors who can craft malicious web content to trigger the vulnerable code path.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Microsoft Edge is the default browser or where users may encounter malicious web content. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can gain full system control without requiring local access or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through web-based attack vectors. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge versions that utilize the Chakra engine, making it particularly concerning for organizations that have not applied the relevant security patches, as the attack surface remains open for exploitation.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user systems to enterprise networks, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within networks. Organizations should prioritize patch management and security updates to address this vulnerability, as the Chakra engine's integration into Microsoft Edge means that any exploitation could result in data breaches, system takeovers, or further attack escalation. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider browser hardening measures to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches, particularly for browser components that handle untrusted input from web content, as these components represent prime targets for attackers seeking persistent access to systems.