CVE-2013-0837 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
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 the handling of extension tabs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0837 represents a significant security flaw in Google Chrome browsers prior to version 24.0.1312.52, specifically concerning the improper handling of extension tabs within the browser's architecture. This issue falls under the category of denial of service vulnerabilities while potentially exposing users to more severe consequences through unspecified other impacts. The vulnerability stems from how Chrome processes and manages tab elements associated with browser extensions, creating potential attack vectors that malicious actors could exploit to compromise system integrity.
The technical implementation flaw resides in Chrome's tab management system where extension tabs are not properly validated or sanitized during processing. When a malicious extension attempts to manipulate tab behavior through crafted inputs or malformed data structures, the browser's tab handling mechanism fails to properly isolate or contain these operations. This lack of proper input validation and sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code or manipulate tab states in ways that could lead to browser instability or more serious security breaches. The vulnerability specifically affects the interaction between browser extensions and the core tab management system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have multiple extensions installed.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents substantial risks to both individual users and enterprise environments. Attackers could leverage this flaw to cause persistent denial of service conditions by forcing Chrome to crash or become unresponsive through malicious extension tab manipulation. The unspecified other impacts suggest potential for privilege escalation or information disclosure scenarios that could allow attackers to gain deeper access to system resources. In enterprise settings, this vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt productivity across multiple users simultaneously, while individual users might face privacy risks if the unspecified impacts include data exfiltration capabilities. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers do not require physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate remediation through Chrome updates to version 24.0.1312.52 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the tab handling issues. Additional mitigations include implementing extension whitelisting policies to restrict which browser extensions can be installed and run, along with regular security audits of installed extensions to identify potentially malicious components. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening measures that restrict extension capabilities and monitor for unusual tab behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing layered security approaches to protect against zero-day exploits targeting browser components.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses buffer overflow conditions in memory management, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The attack surface extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential privilege escalation paths that could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, making it a critical vulnerability requiring immediate attention and remediation.