CVE-2023-28301: Microsoft Edge Tampering Vulnerability

CVE-2023-28301 Overview

CVE-2023-28301 is a tampering vulnerability affecting Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) on Android devices. This vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate or tamper with data integrity within the browser under specific conditions. While the vulnerability requires high attack complexity, it can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction, potentially compromising the integrity of data processed by the browser.

Critical Impact

Attackers could potentially tamper with browser data or manipulate web content integrity in Microsoft Edge for Android, though exploitation requires specific conditions to be met.

Affected Products

• Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) for Android
• microsoft edge

Discovery Timeline

• April 11, 2023 - CVE-2023-28301 published to NVD
• February 28, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-28301

Vulnerability Analysis

This tampering vulnerability in Microsoft Edge for Android stems from improper input validation (CWE-20). The vulnerability allows network-based attackers to compromise data integrity without requiring any privileges or user interaction. However, the attack complexity is high, meaning specific conditions must be met for successful exploitation.

The vulnerability's impact is limited to integrity concerns, with no direct effect on confidentiality or availability of the affected system. The unchanged scope indicates that the vulnerability's impact remains confined to the vulnerable component itself, without extending to other system components.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2023-28301 is attributed to improper input validation (CWE-20) within the Microsoft Edge browser on Android platforms. This weakness allows attackers to provide malformed or unexpected input that the application fails to properly validate, potentially leading to data tampering scenarios.

Improper input validation vulnerabilities occur when software does not validate input properly, allowing attackers to craft inputs that can influence the application's behavior in unintended ways. In the context of a browser, this could affect how data is processed, rendered, or communicated.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, meaning exploitation occurs remotely over a network connection. The key characteristics of the attack include:

• Network-Based Exploitation: The attacker can target victims remotely without requiring local access
• No Authentication Required: The vulnerability can be exploited without any user credentials or privileges
• No User Interaction: Victims do not need to perform any action for the attack to succeed
• High Complexity: Exploitation requires specific conditions or circumstances to be present

The tampering nature of this vulnerability means successful exploitation could allow an attacker to modify or manipulate data processed by the browser, potentially affecting the integrity of web content or browser data.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-28301

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected modifications to browser settings or stored data in Microsoft Edge for Android
• Anomalous network traffic patterns originating from or directed to the Edge browser
• Unusual browser behavior or rendering inconsistencies on Android devices

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Microsoft Edge for Android for unexpected configuration changes or data modifications
• Implement network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns associated with browser communications
• Review application logs for signs of input validation failures or unexpected data processing

Monitoring Recommendations

• Keep Microsoft Edge updated to the latest version on all Android devices in the organization
• Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions to track browser versions and configurations
• Enable security logging for mobile applications where available

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-28301

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Microsoft Edge for Android to the latest available version immediately
• Review the official Microsoft Security Response Center advisory for specific patch information
• Enable automatic updates for Microsoft Edge on all managed Android devices
• Consider implementing additional mobile security controls through MDM solutions

Patch Information

Microsoft has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Microsoft Security Update Guide for CVE-2023-28301 for detailed patch information, including affected versions and remediation steps.

To ensure protection, verify that Microsoft Edge for Android is updated to the patched version as specified in Microsoft's advisory. Enable automatic updates to receive security patches promptly.

Workarounds

• If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporarily restricting use of Microsoft Edge on Android devices for sensitive operations
• Implement network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts
• Use alternative browsers on Android devices until the patch can be applied
• Enforce browser update policies through enterprise mobile management solutions

# Verify Microsoft Edge version on Android devices
# Access Edge settings to check current version:
# Settings > About Microsoft Edge
# Ensure version matches or exceeds the patched version from Microsoft advisory