CVE-2023-36409 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Information Disclosure Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Edge browsers based on the Chromium engine. The issue stems from improper handling of certain memory management operations during web page rendering processes, specifically affecting how the browser manages memory allocation for JavaScript objects and DOM elements. Attackers can exploit this weakness to potentially access sensitive data from other processes or memory regions that should remain isolated. The vulnerability manifests when Edge encounters specific combinations of web content that trigger memory corruption patterns, allowing for unauthorized data exposure through memory read operations. According to CWE-200, this represents a weakness where information is disclosed to unauthorized actors, making it particularly dangerous in environments where browser isolation is critical for security. The flaw exists at the intersection of memory management and process isolation mechanisms, where the browser's security boundaries are not properly enforced during dynamic content processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition or memory corruption scenario that occurs when Edge processes complex web pages containing specific JavaScript constructs and DOM manipulations. When the browser's rendering engine encounters certain patterns of object creation and destruction, it fails to properly validate memory boundaries, potentially allowing adjacent memory regions to be accessed through crafted web content. This type of vulnerability typically requires the attacker to have a user visit a malicious website or receive a specially crafted email with embedded web content that triggers the specific memory access patterns. The exploit chain often involves leveraging the browser's JavaScript engine to manipulate memory pointers or object references in ways that bypass normal security checks. The underlying issue relates to improper memory validation during garbage collection processes and object lifetime management, which falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, as the attack vector typically involves malicious web content delivery.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-36409 extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling attackers to access sensitive data such as user credentials, session tokens, personal information, or other confidential data stored in browser memory. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could allow attackers to escalate privileges or move laterally within networks by extracting authentication tokens or other sensitive information from browser processes. The risk is particularly elevated when users browse untrusted websites or receive malicious emails containing embedded web content that triggers the vulnerability. Organizations running Microsoft Edge in production environments face significant exposure risks, especially in scenarios where users interact with potentially malicious websites or receive spearphishing emails. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. Security teams must consider the potential for credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration when evaluating the impact of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of Microsoft Edge installations to the latest security updates provided by Microsoft. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including enabling strict security policies, disabling unnecessary browser features, and configuring content security policies to limit potential attack vectors. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious content delivery attempts. Regular security assessments and monitoring of browser processes should be implemented to identify potential exploitation attempts. The use of sandboxing technologies and process isolation mechanisms should be enhanced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could deliver malicious content. Microsoft recommends immediate deployment of security updates and advises organizations to monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security extensions, configuring secure browsing policies, and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to address browser-based information disclosure vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of continuous security monitoring and rapid response capabilities for addressing zero-day exploits in widely deployed browser applications.