CVE-2023-36880 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 12/07/2023
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Information Disclosure Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The CVE-2023-36880 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Microsoft Edge browser that leverages the Chromium engine architecture. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of cross-origin resource sharing and memory management operations, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data exposure. The flaw resides in how Edge processes certain web requests and manages memory allocation during resource loading operations, particularly when dealing with complex web applications that utilize multiple domains and origins. Security researchers identified this vulnerability through extensive analysis of the browser's network stack and memory handling mechanisms, revealing that certain combinations of web requests could trigger unintended data leakage.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated attack vector that manipulates the browser's origin policy enforcement mechanisms. When Edge processes web content that involves multiple origins, the vulnerability allows attackers to potentially access memory segments that should remain isolated between different domains. This occurs due to improper boundary checking in the browser's memory management system, where certain cross-origin requests bypass normal security restrictions. The flaw particularly manifests when JavaScript code attempts to access resources across different origins while the browser is in the process of memory allocation for rendering complex web pages. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management and security policy enforcement, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through seemingly benign web browsing activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-36880 extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks that could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive data from memory segments that contain user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often only involving navigation to a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios. Organizations that rely heavily on Edge browser for internal operations face significant risk as this vulnerability could be used to access corporate data, user information, or sensitive business processes. The attack surface is broad as it affects all versions of Edge that utilize the affected Chromium components, potentially impacting millions of users across various organizational environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment and network-level protections. Microsoft has released security updates that address the underlying memory management and cross-origin policy enforcement issues. Organizations should implement strict browser hardening measures including enabling security features like strict site isolation, disabling unnecessary browser components, and implementing network segmentation to limit potential exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1557 (Adversary-in-the-Middle) when exploited in network-based attacks. Security teams should monitor for unusual memory access patterns and implement behavioral analytics to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of web applications and browser configurations are essential to prevent successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with information disclosure attacks.