CVE-2022-21929 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2022-21930, CVE-2022-21931.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2022
This vulnerability exists within Microsoft Edge browsers based on the Chromium engine and represents a critical remote code execution flaw that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain object types during web page rendering processes, creating a condition where maliciously crafted web content could trigger arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. Security researchers identified this issue during routine code analysis and testing of Edge's JavaScript engine components, specifically within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Chromium-based browsers. The flaw manifests when the browser encounters specially crafted HTML elements or JavaScript code that exploits memory management issues in the rendering pipeline, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to convince a user to visit a malicious website or open a specially crafted email attachment containing malicious web content. The attack vector typically involves techniques such as heap spraying or use-after-free conditions that leverage the browser's memory management to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, this vulnerability maps to CWE-119: Improper Access to Memory and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which are fundamental memory safety issues that have historically led to numerous remote code execution exploits in web browsers. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as attackers would utilize JavaScript-based payloads to exploit the memory corruption issue and establish persistent access to compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially enable large-scale attacks against enterprise networks where Edge browsers are widely deployed. Organizations using Microsoft Edge in their browser security policies face significant risk as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish command and control channels, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Microsoft Edge including those based on Chromium version 97 and later, making it particularly concerning for organizations that have not yet applied the relevant security patches. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no local privileges to exploit, making it especially dangerous in environments where users have administrative rights or where browser-based attacks are common.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Microsoft's security patches released in February 2022, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in the V8 JavaScript engine. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as browser hardening configurations, content security policies, and web application firewalls to reduce the attack surface. Network administrators should consider implementing sandboxing techniques and privilege separation for browser processes to limit potential damage from successful exploits. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and implementing layered defense strategies as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, particularly focusing on unusual JavaScript execution patterns or memory access violations that might indicate exploitation attempts.