CVE-2010-3254 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The WebSockets implementation in Google Chrome before 6.0.472.53 does not properly handle integer values, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3254 resides within the WebSocket implementation of Google Chrome browsers prior to version 6.0.472.53, representing a critical security flaw that could be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system availability and potentially execute arbitrary code. This issue stems from improper handling of integer values within the browser's WebSocket protocol implementation, which forms a fundamental part of modern web applications for real-time communication between clients and servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the manner Chrome processes integer data types when establishing and maintaining WebSocket connections, creating potential overflow conditions or memory corruption scenarios that could be leveraged by malicious actors. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and integer handling issues, which are commonly classified as CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound) or CWE-129 (Improper Validation of Array Index) depending on the specific implementation details. These types of vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to memory corruption that may be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Chrome-based browsers for web applications and services. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain unauthorized access to systems, while the denial of service component could disrupt critical business operations by making web applications unavailable. The unspecified nature of the potential impacts indicates that the vulnerability may have broader consequences beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting system integrity and confidentiality. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210 (Exploitation of Remote Services) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) which describe how attackers can leverage such vulnerabilities to compromise systems.
The impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially affect entire web infrastructure, as WebSocket connections are increasingly used in modern web applications for real-time data exchange, gaming, and collaborative tools. Organizations using Chrome browsers for business-critical applications face exposure to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where web applications heavily rely on WebSocket protocols for functionality. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites, making it attractive to threat actors who may use it as an initial access vector in broader attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Chrome updates to version 6.0.472.53 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the integer handling issues in WebSocket implementations. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary restrictions on WebSocket usage in high-risk environments. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any web applications that may be vulnerable to similar issues and ensure that all browser components are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security audits should verify that no other components within the web infrastructure may be susceptible to similar integer overflow vulnerabilities.