CVE-2010-2899 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the layout implementation in Google Chrome before 5.0.375.125 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2899 represents a critical information disclosure issue within Google Chrome's layout implementation component. This flaw existed in Chrome versions prior to 5.0.375.125 and enabled remote attackers to extract sensitive data from process memory through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remained unclear at the time of reporting, though it was recognized as a significant security concern affecting the browser's memory management and process isolation capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies within Chrome's layout engine implementation, which is responsible for rendering web page elements and managing the visual presentation of content. When processing certain web content, the layout implementation failed to properly sanitize or isolate memory access patterns, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious web pages that could probe process memory structures. This type of vulnerability typically stems from improper memory management practices, insufficient bounds checking, or inadequate memory access controls within the browser's rendering subsystem. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it could potentially expose sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential information stored in memory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability created substantial risk for Chrome users who were exposed to remote exploitation through malicious websites. Attackers could leverage this flaw by hosting compromised web pages that would trigger the vulnerable code path when rendered in Chrome browsers. The attack vector would likely involve crafting specific HTML or CSS content that would cause the browser to access memory locations containing sensitive information. The unspecified nature of the vectors suggests that multiple attack scenarios were possible, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as defenders had limited ability to predict or prevent all potential exploitation methods. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the browser's security model and could undermine user trust in the browser's ability to isolate web content and protect sensitive data.
The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure," and potentially CWE-125, which addresses "Out-of-Bounds Read" conditions that can lead to memory disclosure. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to techniques within the ATT&CK matrix under the Information Gathering phase, specifically targeting the Collection tactic. The attack could be categorized under privilege escalation or information disclosure techniques, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to access memory contents that should remain isolated from web content. Organizations using affected Chrome versions faced significant risk of data breaches and credential compromise, particularly in environments where users might encounter malicious websites or where sensitive information was processed within the browser. The vulnerability underscored the critical importance of browser security isolation and proper memory management practices in preventing cross-site information leakage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily centered on immediate browser updates to versions 5.0.375.125 and later, which contained patches addressing the memory handling issues within the layout implementation. Organizations should have implemented rapid deployment of security patches across their managed environments, particularly for users who regularly accessed potentially malicious websites. Additional defensive measures included implementing web application firewalls, content filtering systems, and browser security extensions that could detect and block suspicious web content. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of browser environments became essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other browser components or related software. The incident highlighted the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid response capabilities to address vulnerabilities in widely used software components, particularly those that directly impact user data protection and system security.