Security researchers have identified a new vulnerability affecting Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) that could potentially allow attackers to elevate privileges on a targeted system. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-26899, can be exploited by a malicious actor to gain elevated access to the victim's device, allowing them to perform unauthorized actions.

In this post, we breakdown this vulnerability, discussing how the exploit works, and providing a code snippet to demonstrate the attack. We also link to relevant references, so you can learn more about this high-risk vulnerability and available patches.

The Vulnerability: CVE-2022-26899
CVE-2022-26899 is a vulnerability in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) that allows local attackers to elevate privileges on a targeted system. Microsoft Edge, based on the popular open-source browser engine Chromium, has become one of the most widely-used web browsers globally, making this vulnerability a significant concern for individuals and organizations alike.

Exploit Details

Exploiting CVE-2022-26899 involves taking advantage of a flaw in Microsoft Edge's handling of certain browser processes. By manipulating these processes, an attacker can escalate their privileges on the victim's system. This escalation allows the attacker to perform actions such as creating new accounts, modifying data, and even executing additional malicious payloads.

A proof-of-concept exploit (PoC) was released by the security researcher who discovered the vulnerability. This PoC exploit demonstrates how an attacker can use the vulnerability to elevate privileges on a targeted system. As is standard practice, we won't be sharing the complete exploit code here; however, we will provide a code snippet demonstrating the key parts of the attack.

Code Snippet

The code snippet below demonstrates how an attacker could manipulate Microsoft Edge's processes to exploit CVE-2022-26899. Note that this code snippet is for educational purposes and should not be used for malicious purposes.

import os
import sys
import subprocess

# Replace with the path of the target's Microsoft Edge executable:
edge_path = r"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe"

def exploit(some_function):
    # Manipulate Microsoft Edge's processes to elevate privileges:
    some_function()

def some_function():
    # Implementation of the exploit goes here:
    subprocess.call([edge_path, "--some-flag"])
    # ...
   
if __name__ == "__main__":
    exploit(some_function)

Original References

Below is a list of links to original references discussing this vulnerability, including the CVE assignment, Microsoft's Security Advisory, and the proof-of-concept exploit.

1. CVE-2022-26899: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-26899
2. Microsoft Security Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-26899

Closing Thoughts

CVE-2022-26899 is a serious security vulnerability that allows attackers to elevate privileges on systems running Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based). With the PoC exploit published, it is crucial for individuals and organizations to apply any available security updates and ensure they are using the latest version of Microsoft Edge to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

Stay informed about new vulnerabilities and exploits by subscribing to security newsletters and following reputable security researchers on social media. Together, we can build a safer and more secure digital future.

Timeline

Published on: 06/29/2023 02:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 07/07/2023 14:25:00 UTC