CVE-2023-38158 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2023
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Information Disclosure Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
This vulnerability exists in Microsoft Edge browser versions prior to 115.0.1901.183 and represents an information disclosure flaw that could allow attackers to extract sensitive data from the browser's memory or processes. The issue stems from improper handling of certain memory operations within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how the browser manages memory allocation and deallocation during page rendering processes. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to access cached data, temporary files, or other sensitive information that should remain isolated within the browser's secure execution environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the core Chromium-based architecture that Microsoft Edge utilizes, making it potentially exploitable across a wide range of web applications and services that rely on the browser for secure operations.
The technical implementation of this information disclosure vulnerability involves memory corruption patterns that occur when Edge processes certain web content elements, particularly those involving complex rendering operations or dynamic content manipulation. When the browser encounters specific combinations of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, it may fail to properly clear memory segments that contain sensitive data from previous operations. This memory leakage could expose information such as user credentials, session tokens, personal data, or other confidential information that was temporarily stored in memory during browsing sessions. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and browser security boundaries, where the normal isolation mechanisms between different browsing contexts become compromised. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" and represents a classic case of insufficient memory cleanup or improper memory handling during web content processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential attack vectors for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. An attacker could leverage this information disclosure to gather intelligence about user activities, identify patterns in browser usage, or extract sensitive session information that could be used for further attacks such as session hijacking or credential theft. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires a user to visit a malicious website or interact with specific web content that triggers the memory corruption behavior. This makes it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or targeted attacks where adversaries can craft specific web pages designed to exploit this flaw. The potential for this vulnerability to be combined with other exploits creates additional security risks, as the leaked information could provide attackers with the necessary context to launch more effective attacks against the user's browser environment or associated systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus primarily on updating to the patched version of Microsoft Edge, specifically version 115.0.1901.183 or later, which includes memory handling improvements and enhanced security boundaries. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all Edge installations are updated across their environments, particularly in enterprise settings where browser security is critical. Additional defensive measures include implementing browser hardening configurations, enabling security features such as sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious web content or user interactions that might trigger the vulnerability. Network security teams should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious content that might exploit this information disclosure vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1552, which covers "Unsecured Credentials" and T1059, which addresses "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as potential follow-on attack techniques that could be employed once sensitive information has been extracted through memory-based exploitation.