CVE-2009-2556 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 2.0.172.37 allows attackers to leverage renderer access to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors that trigger excessive memory allocation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2556 represents a critical memory management flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 2.0.172.37 that exposes the browser to potential remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the Chrome renderer process which handles the display and execution of web content, making it a significant concern for web browsing security. The flaw stems from insufficient memory allocation controls within the browser's rendering engine, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption issues through carefully crafted web pages or scripts. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level of the browser's architecture where memory management decisions are made during content rendering, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory allocation patterns beyond normal operational parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of memory allocation mechanisms within Chrome's renderer component, where attackers can trigger excessive memory consumption through unspecified vectors that manipulate how the browser allocates memory during page rendering. This memory corruption occurs when the renderer process encounters malformed or malicious input that causes it to allocate more memory than intended, potentially leading to memory exhaustion or corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory safety issues classified under CWE-122 and CWE-125, which deal with buffer overflows and memory corruption vulnerabilities. The renderer process in Chrome is designed to isolate web content execution from the main browser process, but this particular vulnerability allows attackers to bypass some of these isolation mechanisms through memory manipulation techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for users of affected Chrome versions as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, while the denial of service component can be used to disrupt normal browser operations or cause system instability. The vulnerability affects the core rendering functionality that is essential to browser operation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through routine web browsing activities. Security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited through cross-site scripting attacks or malicious advertisements, making it difficult for users to avoid exposure.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2556 primarily focus on updating to Chrome version 2.0.172.37 or later, which includes patches that address the memory allocation vulnerabilities in the renderer process. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems are updated promptly, as this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Browser vendors and security teams have documented similar issues in the ATT&CK framework under techniques related to memory corruption and privilege escalation, highlighting the importance of maintaining current browser versions. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict memory allocation patterns, using sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploits, and monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar memory management issues in other browser components or web applications that might present similar attack surfaces.