CVE-2024-26196 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2024
Microsoft Edge for Android (Chromium-based) Information Disclosure Vulnerability
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Microsoft Edge for Android that leverages the underlying chromium architecture to expose sensitive data through improper handling of memory management and process isolation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of temporary data structures during tab switching operations within the browser's multi-process architecture, allowing malicious actors to potentially access cached credentials, browsing history, or session tokens from previously accessed web pages.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the browser's renderer processes fail to properly clear memory segments containing sensitive information during navigation transitions. This creates a window where data remnants persist in accessible memory locations, particularly affecting how temporary files and cached resources are managed between different browsing contexts. The vulnerability manifests through improper memory deallocation routines that do not adequately overwrite or securely dispose of previously used data structures, creating potential for information leakage across user sessions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to user privacy and security as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive information including authentication tokens, personal browsing data, or corporate credentials from the device's memory. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Android devices often store additional contextual information within browser processes that may include location data, contact information, or other personally identifiable information. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and proper isolation between different browsing contexts as established in secure software design practices.
The flaw aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-200 Information Exposure and CWE-312 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, demonstrating how improper memory management can create persistent security risks within modern browser architectures. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 Unsecured Credentials, as it enables unauthorized access to stored authentication data through memory-based exploitation techniques. The attack vector typically requires minimal privileges and can be executed through crafted web content that triggers the specific memory handling behavior.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust memory sanitization protocols within the browser's rendering engine, ensuring proper deallocation of sensitive data structures, and strengthening process isolation mechanisms between different browsing contexts. Microsoft has addressed this vulnerability through updates that enforce stricter memory management practices and improved inter-process communication security measures. Organizations should maintain updated browser versions, implement network monitoring to detect anomalous access patterns, and consider additional security controls such as application whitelisting or mobile device management solutions to limit potential exploitation.
The vulnerability highlights fundamental challenges in modern browser security where the complexity of multi-process architectures creates numerous potential attack surfaces for information disclosure attacks. This particular flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor memory management oversights can create significant security implications in mobile browser environments where resource constraints and user privacy expectations intersect. Proper implementation of secure coding practices including memory deallocation verification and secure data handling protocols is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future browser implementations.