CVE-2010-1772 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in page/Geolocation.cpp in WebCore in WebKit before r59859, as used in Google Chrome before 5.0.375.70, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted web site, related to failure to stop timers associated with geolocation upon deletion of a document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The CVE-2010-1772 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the WebKit rendering engine's geolocation implementation that affected Google Chrome versions prior to 5.0.375.70. This vulnerability resides in the page/Geolocation.cpp file within WebCore, which is the core component responsible for handling geolocation services in web browsers. The flaw manifests when the browser fails to properly terminate associated timers during document deletion, creating a scenario where freed memory can be accessed by malicious code. The vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free condition under CWE-416, which occurs when software continues to reference memory after it has been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a crafted malicious website that triggers the geolocation API while simultaneously manipulating the document lifecycle. When a document containing geolocation requests is deleted or navigated away from, the associated timers that manage geolocation updates are not properly stopped, leaving references to freed memory objects in the system. This creates a window where an attacker can manipulate the timing and execution flow to cause the application to access freed memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory management aspect of the geolocation service implementation, where timer cleanup operations are insufficient to prevent access to deallocated resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1772 extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential remote code execution capabilities that could be leveraged by attackers to compromise user systems. When exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised browser process, effectively providing a foothold for further attacks within the user's system. The vulnerability affects not only the targeted browser but also represents a broader concern for web application security, particularly in how browser engines handle resource cleanup during document transitions. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can potentially inject malicious code through the compromised browser environment, and T1211 for exploitation for defense evasion.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1772 primarily involve updating to patched versions of Google Chrome where the memory management issues have been resolved. The fix implemented in Chrome 5.0.375.70 ensures proper cleanup of geolocation timers and associated resources when documents are deleted, preventing the use-after-free condition. Organizations should also consider implementing additional browser hardening measures such as sandboxing, content security policies, and regular security updates to minimize exposure. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper resource management in browser engines and highlights the need for comprehensive memory safety testing, particularly in components that handle asynchronous operations and timer management. Security teams should monitor for similar patterns in other browser components and ensure that all third-party libraries and browser engine modifications undergo rigorous security review to prevent similar use-after-free conditions.