CVE-2023-36024 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Microsoft Edge based on the Chromium engine. This vulnerability allows an attacker to gain higher privileges on a system by exploiting a flaw in the browser's security mechanisms. Specifically, the vulnerability is classified under CWE-269, which relates to improper privileges or permissions. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, indicating a high impact. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C) reveals that the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), requires no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low to moderate (C:L/I:L/A:L). The exploitability is currently unknown (E:U), and the vulnerability has an official fix released (RL:O) with confirmed reports (RC:C). No known exploits are currently in the wild. The affected product version is listed as 1.0.0, which likely refers to an initial or specific build of Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser. The vulnerability allows an attacker who can trick a user into interacting with a malicious web page or content to escalate their privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or access on the victim's system. Because the attack requires user interaction, social engineering or phishing techniques may be used to trigger the exploit. The vulnerability's impact is significant due to the widespread use of Microsoft Edge in enterprise and consumer environments, and the changed scope indicates that the attacker could affect system components beyond the browser sandbox, increasing the risk to system integrity and availability.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a considerable risk due to the extensive adoption of Microsoft Edge across both public and private sectors. Elevation of privilege vulnerabilities can allow attackers to bypass security restrictions, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of malware, or disruption of services. Given that the attack requires user interaction, phishing campaigns targeting European users could be an effective vector, especially in sectors with high-value targets such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure. The changed scope of the vulnerability means that an exploited system could see broader compromise beyond the browser process, threatening system integrity and availability. This could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and loss of trust. Additionally, the vulnerability's presence in an internet-facing application increases the attack surface. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the high CVSS score and the nature of the vulnerability suggest that threat actors may develop exploits, particularly targeting organizations with less mature security awareness or patch management practices. The impact is amplified in environments where Edge is used as the default browser and where users have administrative privileges or where endpoint protection is insufficient.

1. Immediate application of the latest Microsoft Edge updates as soon as patches become available is critical, even though no patch links are currently provided; organizations should monitor Microsoft security advisories closely. 2. Implement strict browser usage policies limiting the execution of untrusted or unknown web content, including disabling or restricting JavaScript and plugins where feasible. 3. Enhance user awareness training focused on phishing and social engineering tactics to reduce the likelihood of user interaction with malicious content. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring for unusual privilege escalation behaviors originating from browser processes. 5. Use application control and sandboxing techniques to limit the ability of the browser to affect system-wide resources, thereby containing potential exploitation impact. 6. Enforce the principle of least privilege for user accounts, ensuring users operate with minimal necessary permissions to reduce the consequences of privilege escalation. 7. Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation attempts, such as unusual outbound connections or data exfiltration patterns. 8. For organizations using Microsoft Endpoint Manager or similar tools, deploy policies that can quickly roll out browser updates and security configurations across all endpoints. 9. Consider temporarily restricting access to Microsoft Edge in highly sensitive environments until patches are confirmed and deployed.