CVE-2008-6994 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the SaveAs feature (SaveFileAsWithFilter function) in win_util.cc in Google Chrome 0.2.149.27 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a web page with a long TITLE element, which triggers the overflow when the user saves the page and a long filename is generated. NOTE: it might be possible to exploit this issue via an HTTP response that includes a long filename in a Content-Disposition header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6994 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within Google Chrome's win_util.cc component, specifically affecting the SaveFileAsWithFilter function that handles the SaveAs feature. This flaw exists in Chrome version 0.2.149.27 and demonstrates how seemingly benign web content can be weaponized to execute arbitrary code on victim systems. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted remote attack vector where malicious actors craft web pages containing excessively long TITLE elements that trigger the buffer overflow during the page saving process.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of the SaveAs functionality in Chrome's Windows utility implementation. When users interact with a malicious web page containing an overly long TITLE element, the browser's SaveFileAsWithFilter function processes this input without adequate bounds checking. The function fails to validate the length of the generated filename, leading to a stack buffer overflow when the excessively long title data exceeds the allocated buffer space. This overflow occurs during the filename generation process when the browser attempts to save the page, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data overflows into adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this issue to inject malicious code into the browser process, potentially gaining complete control over the victim's system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through the SaveAs feature, making it a user-assisted attack that relies on social engineering to convince victims to save malicious web pages. However, the attack vector can be extended through HTTP response manipulation where malicious servers include long filenames in Content-Disposition headers, allowing for automated exploitation without direct user interaction in some scenarios.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions due to insufficient bounds checking. The attack pattern follows techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as the overflow enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process. The exploitation scenario demonstrates how web-based attacks can leverage browser-specific functionality to achieve system-level compromise, representing a classic example of how browser vulnerabilities can serve as initial access vectors for broader attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions, as the flaw existed in a relatively early release of the browser. Users should maintain updated browser versions and avoid saving pages from untrusted sources. Security measures should include implementing content filtering to detect and block excessively long TITLE elements in web content, as well as monitoring for unusual file saving behaviors in browser processes. Organizations should consider implementing network-level protections that can identify and block malicious Content-Disposition headers that might trigger similar buffer overflow conditions in other browser implementations. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of input validation and bounds checking in browser utility functions, particularly those handling user-provided data during file operations.