CVE-2017-11846 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability, known as "Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability," has been identified in ChakraCore, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge in various versions of Microsoft Windows. This CVE allows attackers to gain user privileges similar to the logged-in user.

Understanding CVE-2017-11846

What is CVE-2017-11846?

This vulnerability in ChakraCore, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer allows attackers to exploit memory corruption in the scripting engine, potentially leading to remote code execution.

The Impact of CVE-2017-11846

This vulnerability enables attackers to acquire the same user privileges as the currently logged-in user, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-11846

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from how the scripting engine manages objects in memory, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: ChakraCore, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer
Vendor: Microsoft Corporation
Versions: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 and R2 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and R2, Windows 10 Gold, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server version 1709

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious script or webpage to trigger the memory corruption in the scripting engine, leading to unauthorized code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Microsoft promptly to address the vulnerability.
Consider disabling scripting engines in browsers if not required for essential functionality.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security awareness training for users to recognize and report suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates from Microsoft and apply them to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.