CVE-2013-0832 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 24.0.1312.52 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to printing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The CVE-2013-0832 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 24.0.1312.52 that specifically targets the browser's printing functionality. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for remote attackers. The flaw manifests within the printing subsystem of Chrome, making it particularly concerning as printing operations are commonly performed by users across various web applications and websites. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the reuse of memory after it has been freed, a pattern that frequently leads to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating the printing process in such a way that memory allocated for printing-related structures becomes freed while still being referenced by subsequent operations. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or print jobs that trigger the use-after-free condition when Chrome attempts to process the print request. This scenario can result in memory corruption that may lead to denial of service conditions where the browser crashes or becomes unresponsive. However, the vulnerability's potential impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the memory corruption could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks including arbitrary code execution, though the specific details of such exploitation remain unspecified in the CVE description.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who frequently interact with web content that might trigger printing functionality or access websites with malicious print handling code. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. The vulnerability affects a wide range of users since printing functionality is commonly used across various web applications and services. Organizations that rely on Chrome for business operations face potential disruption and security risks when users encounter malicious content that exploits this flaw. The vulnerability's presence in older Chrome versions means that organizations with outdated browser deployments are particularly exposed to potential exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0832 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 24.0.1312.52 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict printing capabilities in high-risk environments, utilizing sandboxing features that limit the impact of potential exploitation, and monitoring for suspicious printing-related activities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious print-related content. The vulnerability's exploitation demonstrates the importance of keeping browser software current, as it represents a common attack surface that attackers frequently target. Security teams should monitor threat intelligence feeds for any reported exploitation attempts and consider implementing network-based detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities.