CVE-2013-0891 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Google Chrome before 25.0.1364.97 on Windows and Linux, and before 25.0.1364.99 on Mac OS X, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a blob.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0891 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Google Chrome versions prior to specific patches across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacts Chrome versions before 25.0.1364.97 on Windows and Linux platforms, and before 25.0.1364.99 on Mac OS X. The flaw manifests when the browser processes blob objects, which are binary large objects commonly used for handling multimedia content and other binary data within web applications. The integer overflow condition occurs during the processing of these blob objects, creating a scenario where the application fails to properly handle large numerical values that exceed the maximum limits of the integer data type.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting malicious blob data that triggers the integer overflow condition within Chrome's memory management systems. When Chrome attempts to allocate memory or process the oversized blob data, the integer overflow causes the application to behave unpredictably, potentially leading to memory corruption or allocation failures. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which represents a well-documented weakness in software security where arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value representable by the data type. The vulnerability demonstrates how improper input validation and insufficient bounds checking can create exploitable conditions in web browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0891 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enabling more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause Chrome to crash or behave erratically, effectively creating a denial of service scenario for users. However, the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest that under certain conditions, this vulnerability might be exploitable for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's cross-platform nature means that users across different operating systems are equally at risk, with the specific patch versions indicating that Google was aware of the severity and addressed it through targeted updates. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling adversaries to gain access to systems through browser exploitation, potentially leading to persistent access or data compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0891 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to the recommended secure versions. Organizations should prioritize updating all Chrome installations across their networks, particularly since this vulnerability affects widely used web browsers with significant user exposure. System administrators should implement automated patch management solutions to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts involving blob data processing. Browser security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that unnecessary blob processing capabilities are disabled where possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs, as this integer overflow could have been prevented through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block potentially malicious blob data before it reaches browser processing components. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments to ensure compatibility with existing applications while addressing the security vulnerability effectively.