CVE-2020-17131 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

On December 8, 2020, Microsoft disclosed a memory corruption vulnerability in the Chakra Scripting Engine affecting ChakraCore and Microsoft Edge.

Understanding CVE-2020-17131

This CVE involves a remote code execution vulnerability with a base severity of MEDIUM.

What is CVE-2020-17131?

The Chakra Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely.

The Impact of CVE-2020-17131

The vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized remote code execution on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-17131

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Chakra Scripting Engine allows attackers to corrupt memory, leading to potential code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

ChakraCore: All versions are affected up to the publication date.
Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML-based): Version 1.0.0 is affected.
Platforms: Various Windows versions and architectures are impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious script and convincing a user to visit a specially crafted website.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-17131, follow these mitigation steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates provided by Microsoft.
Consider disabling the Chakra scripting engine in affected products if updates are not feasible.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and systems to patch known vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe browsing practices to avoid malicious websites.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Ensure all affected systems are updated to the latest patched versions.