CVE-2013-0898 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
Use-after-free vulnerability 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 vectors involving a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The CVE-2013-0898 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome browsers across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting versions prior to 25.0.1364.97 on Windows and Linux platforms and before 25.0.1364.99 on Mac OS X. The issue manifests when the browser processes certain URL-based content that triggers a scenario where freed memory is accessed after being deallocated, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems, making it a well-documented and serious memory safety issue that has been targeted by malicious actors in various exploit campaigns.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious URL that, when loaded in the affected Chrome versions, triggers a specific code path within the browser's memory management system. When the browser encounters this crafted content, it executes code that leads to a memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the same memory location, causing unpredictable behavior. This use-after-free condition can potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system, though the primary reported impact involves denial of service attacks that crash the browser application. The vulnerability's cross-platform nature makes it particularly dangerous as it affects multiple operating environments without requiring platform-specific exploits, demonstrating the widespread impact of memory safety flaws in widely used applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0898 extends beyond simple browser crashes, as it represents a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks within the broader threat landscape. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can enable attackers to execute code with the privileges of the Chrome process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in the browser's core rendering engine means that simply visiting a malicious website could result in exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for users who browse the internet regularly. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of scripting languages for execution, and represents a classic example of how memory corruption vulnerabilities can be weaponized in modern cyber attacks. The issue highlights the critical importance of timely patch management and the need for robust memory safety practices in browser development.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0898 focus primarily on immediate version upgrades to patched Chrome releases, as the vulnerability has been resolved through proper memory management fixes in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly given the remote exploit capability. Browser vendors and security teams should also consider implementing additional security measures such as address space layout randomization, stack canaries, and other exploit mitigations that can reduce the effectiveness of such vulnerabilities even if they are not fully patched. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of memory safety in software development and the critical need for regular security audits and code reviews to identify and remediate use-after-free conditions that can be exploited by threat actors in the wild.