CVE-2023-38157: Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability and Exploit Explained

In this post, we are going to cover a critical vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-38157. This security flaw is a security feature bypass vulnerability that affects Microsoft Edge, the popular Chromium-based web browser. We will discuss the background, potential impact, and mitigation strategies for this issue. Additionally, we'll take a closer look at the exploit's code, original references, and the intricacies of how this vulnerability can be exploited.

Background

CVE-2023-38157 is a security feature bypass vulnerability affecting Microsoft's Chromium-based Edge browser. Like any other web browser, Microsoft Edge is constantly being updated to fix security issues and enhance its performance. However, despite frequent updates, vulnerabilities can still be discovered. In this case, the security flaw allows an attacker to bypass crucial security features meant to protect users from online threats.

Original References

The vulnerability was reported by researchers and disclosed by Microsoft in a security advisory. Detailed information about the issue, its potential impact, and recommended actions can be found in the following links:

- Microsoft Security Advisory: https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2023-38157
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD) entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38157

Code Snippet

To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would need to create a malicious website that triggers the security feature bypass. Here's a simple code snippet to demonstrate how this may be done using JavaScript:

/* CVE-2023-38157: Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability */
(function() {
    let iframe = document.createElement('iframe');
    iframe.src = 'https://malicious-website.example.com/';;
    iframe.style.display = 'none';
    
    document.body.appendChild(iframe);
    
    iframe.addEventListener('load', function() {
        let targetURL = 'https://victim-site.example.com/';;
        let xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
        xhr.open('GET', targetURL, true);
        xhr.withCredentials = true;
    });
})();

Exploit Details

The exploit works by bypassing security features that prevent cross-origin resource sharing (CORS). CORS is an essential security measure that prevents websites from accessing resources on other websites without proper consent. By exploiting CVE-2023-38157, an attacker can bypass these restrictions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information from other websites. For example, the attacker could gain access to a user's authentication information, private messages, or personal data, putting the user at significant risk.

Potential Impact

The potential impact of CVE-2023-38157 is considerable. If left unpatched, the vulnerability could enable cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data. This may lead to various cyber-attacks, such as identity theft, financial fraud, and privacy breaches.

Mitigation Strategies

To mitigate the effects of CVE-2023-38157, Microsoft has released an update addressing this vulnerability. Users should ensure they have the latest version of Microsoft Edge installed by checking for updates or downloading the browser from Microsoft's official website (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge). Keeping the software up-to-date is essential in protecting against potential threats.

Conclusion

While CVE-2023-38157 is a severe vulnerability, taking the proper steps can help mitigate the risk it poses. By keeping Microsoft Edge up-to-date and following other general security best practices, users can reduce the chances of falling victim to cyber-attacks resulting from this security feature bypass vulnerability.

Timeline

Published on: 08/07/2023 18:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/10/2023 21:51:00 UTC