In this long read post, we will dissect and explore a critical security vulnerability affecting Microsoft Edge browser, a widely popular web browsing application. Designated as CVE-2022-29146, this vulnerability is related to the Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge, leading to elevation of privilege issues. Before we start the deep dive into the technical aspects, it is essential to be familiar with Microsoft's standard classification for such vulnerabilities.

Background

An Elevation of Privilege (EoP) occurs when a user or application gains unauthorized access to resources, allowing the execution of actions that should normally be restricted. Microsoft Edge, which is built upon the Chromium open-source project, is heralded for its extensive range of security features, including sandboxing. However, vulnerabilities can still surface from time to time.

The Vulnerability - CVE-2022-29146

CVE-2022-29146 is an instance of the Elevation of Privilege vulnerability affecting Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based). As reported on the CVE reference page (https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-29146), an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code and potentially compromise the security of the targeted system.

Let's have a look at a code snippet that demonstrates the vulnerability

function vulnerable_function() {
    let exploited_variable = document.createElement('iframe');
    exploited_variable.src = malicious_site_url;
    exploited_variable.style.display = 'none';
    document.body.appendChild(exploited_variable);
}

This code creates an 'iframe' element on the web page, sets its source to a malicious site URL, and then appends it to the document's body. The actual URL might contain a crafted payload designed to exploit the vulnerability, prompting the Elevation of Privilege.

Exploit Details

To successfully exploit the vulnerability, attackers typically employ social engineering tactics, such as:

Comprising a malicious website that hosts exploit code.

2. Sending a phishing email or generating a pop-up ad enticing users to click on a link leading to the malicious website.

Upon visiting the crafted website, the exploit code is executed, and the EoP vulnerability is triggered.

Microsoft has acknowledged this vulnerability and has assigned it the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score of 6.5 (https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-29146#vulnCurrentDescriptionTitle). The company's security team has provided a patch to address this issue and published a security advisory here: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-29146

It is crucial to apply the recommended security updates in a timely manner. Updating your Microsoft Edge browser to the latest version and checking for updates regularly can mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Conclusion

Stay vigilant and make sure to keep your software up to date to protect against potential threats exploiting known vulnerabilities like CVE-2022-29146. As defenders and adversaries innovate and evolve, it is increasingly crucial to stay on top of all newly emerging vulnerabilities and be proactive in securing your digital assets.

Don't forget to visit the original references for detailed information and keep yourself informed about the continuously changing security landscape:

1. CVE Reference: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-29146
2. NVD Details: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-29146
3. Microsoft Security Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2022-29146

Timeline

Published on: 06/29/2023 01:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 07/07/2023 15:35:00 UTC