CVE-2013-0831 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in Google Chrome before 24.0.1312.52 allows remote attackers to have an unspecified impact by leveraging access to an extension process.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0831 represents a directory traversal flaw within Google Chrome versions prior to 24.0.1312.52 that specifically exploits the extension process architecture. This weakness enables remote attackers to manipulate file system access through the browser's extension framework, creating potential pathways for unauthorized file operations. The vulnerability resides in how Chrome handles file system interactions within its extension sandbox environment, where proper input validation and access control mechanisms were insufficient to prevent malicious traversal attempts.
This directory traversal vulnerability operates through the extension process model where Chrome extensions can request file system access through its APIs. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious extension code or exploit existing extensions that improperly validate file paths, potentially enabling access to files outside the intended scope of the extension's permitted file system access. The issue specifically impacts Chrome's handling of relative path references and symbolic link resolution within extension contexts, where the browser fails to properly sanitize or restrict directory traversal sequences that could be exploited to access arbitrary files on the underlying operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive system resources through compromised extensions. Attackers could leverage this weakness to access user data, browser configuration files, or even system files that should remain protected from extension access. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that depending on the system configuration and extension permissions, this vulnerability could facilitate privilege escalation or data exfiltration scenarios. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where browser extensions are commonly deployed and may have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0831 primarily involve upgrading to Chrome version 24.0.1312.52 or later, which includes proper input validation and access control improvements for extension file system operations. Organizations should also implement strict extension management policies, limiting extension installation to trusted sources only, and regularly auditing installed extensions for potential security issues. Security controls should include monitoring for suspicious extension behavior patterns and implementing network-level protections to prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 directory traversal weaknesses and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in software applications, particularly within the browser environment where extensions operate as privileged processes.