CVE-2024-21326 - Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability: Exploit Details, Code Snippet, and Original References

Security researchers recently discovered a vulnerability in the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser, dubbed as CVE-2024-21326, which allows an attacker to escalate privileges on the system and potentially gain control of it. This vulnerability is highly risky and could have serious implications if exploited by malicious hackers. In this post, we will dive deep into understanding this vulnerability, how it can be exploited, and what makes it so dangerous.

Details of the Vulnerability

The CVE-2024-21326 vulnerability exists due to the improper handling of certain features within the Microsoft Edge browser, which can be exploited by malicious hackers to execute arbitrary code on the system, resulting in gaining elevated privileges. Microsoft confirmed the vulnerability and released a patch to address it. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Edge version XX.X.XXXX.XX.

Exploit Breakdown

While the exact details of the exploit are not yet public, we do know that the CVE-2024-21326 vulnerability can be exploited through a specially crafted website. This website will contain malicious code to weaponize the exploit, which may look similar to the following code snippet:

// Sample exploit code for CVE-2024-21326
function trigger_vulnerability() {
  // ... Exploit code here ...
  var vulnerable_feature = new VulnerableFeature();
  vulnerable_feature.trigger(); // Trigger a vulnerable function call
}

window.onload = function() {
  setTimeout(trigger_vulnerability, 100);
};

When a user visits the malicious website using the vulnerable Microsoft Edge browser, the code on the website runs within the context of the browser process and triggers the vulnerability. This allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system with elevated privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or other adverse events.

Mitigations

The good news is that the vulnerability has already been patched by Microsoft. If you happen to be using the affected Microsoft Edge versions, it's crucial to update your browser to the latest version immediately to avoid potential exploitation. You can refer to the official Microsoft advisory provided in the original references section below for more details about the updates and CVE-2024-21326.

Here are some original references related to the CVE-2024-21326 vulnerability

1. Microsoft Security Response Center - Official Microsoft advisory on the vulnerability and related patches.
2. National Vulnerability Database - The United States government repository of standards-based vulnerability management data and CVE details.
3. Chromium Security Fixes - Link to the specific Microsoft Edge Chromium source code commits or updates fixing CVE-2024-21326 and related issues.

Conclusion

The CVE-2024-21326 vulnerability in the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser is a serious security risk that could lead to system compromise if exploited. It's essential for all users who are still running vulnerable versions of Microsoft Edge to update their browsers as soon as possible. By staying vigilant and keeping all your software up-to-date, you can minimize the risks associated with such vulnerabilities and safeguard your system from potential cyberattacks.

Timeline

Published on: 01/26/2024 01:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 01/31/2024 20:10:24 UTC