Overview
In this blog post, we will be analyzing a recently discovered vulnerability, CVE-2025-47181, that affects Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser. This vulnerability allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally through improper link resolution before file access, commonly known as ‘link following’. Given the widespread use of Microsoft Edge, this vulnerability has the potential to impact a vast number of users. Furthermore, the severity of this vulnerability lies in its capacity to disrupt system integrity, leading to potential system compromise or data leakage if exploited.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-47181
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise and/or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) | All versions prior to the latest patch
How the Exploit Works
This vulnerability is rooted in the improper resolution of links before file access within the Microsoft Edge browser. An attacker, who has been granted access, can exploit this weakness to manipulate link resolution processes. This can lead to unauthorized elevation of privileges within the local system. This elevation can further allow the attacker to execute commands or access data that they are not entitled to, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
While we do not encourage or support malicious activity, below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This example is for educational purposes only and is simplified to illustrate the concept.
let malicious_link = document.createElement('a');
malicious_link.href = "file:///etc/passwd";
document.body.appendChild(malicious_link);
malicious_link.click();In this pseudo-JavaScript code, an attacker creates a malicious link pointing to a sensitive file on the system (in this case, the Unix password file). The attacker then programmatically clicks the link, triggering the improper link resolution vulnerability to access the file.
Prevention and Mitigation
Microsoft has released a vendor patch to address this vulnerability. All users are strongly advised to update their Microsoft Edge browser to the latest version as soon as possible. Until the patch is applied, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure. These tools can help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability, but they are not a substitute for applying the vendor patch.