CVE-2013-2268 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the MathML implementation in WebKit in Google Chrome before 25.0.1364.97 on Windows and Linux, and before 25.0.1364.99 on Mac OS X, has unknown impact and remote attack vectors, related to a "high severity security issue."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2268 represents a critical security flaw within the MathML rendering engine of WebKit, the browser engine that powers Google Chrome. This issue specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 25.0.1364.97 on Windows and Linux systems, and before 25.0.1364.99 on Mac OS X platforms. The vulnerability resides in the mathematical markup language implementation that allows web browsers to properly display mathematical equations and symbols on web pages. MathML support in WebKit was implemented through complex parsing and rendering mechanisms that handle mathematical expressions, which inadvertently created a security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability's classification as high severity indicates that it presents a significant risk to user security and system integrity, particularly given the widespread use of Chrome as a primary web browser across multiple operating systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed or malicious MathML content within the WebKit rendering engine. When Chrome encounters mathematical expressions embedded in web pages, the browser must parse and render these elements using the MathML specification. The flaw likely involves memory corruption issues, buffer overflows, or improper input validation during the parsing process of MathML elements. These types of vulnerabilities often arise when developers fail to properly sanitize user-supplied content or when complex parsing logic does not adequately handle edge cases in input data. The vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim's machine through a specially crafted web page containing malicious MathML content. This represents a classic example of a code execution vulnerability that could be leveraged for remote code execution, privilege escalation, or data theft.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2268 extends beyond simple browser exploitation, as it affects millions of Chrome users across different platforms. The vulnerability's presence in the core rendering engine means that any web page displaying mathematical content could potentially serve as an attack vector. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that exploit this vulnerability through various delivery mechanisms including phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that users on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X systems were all at risk, though the specific version numbers indicate different patch release timelines for each operating system. This vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass traditional security measures, as it operates at the browser engine level where many security controls are less effective. The unknown impact and attack vectors described in the CVE suggest that the full scope of potential exploitation methods was not initially understood, which could have allowed for more sophisticated attack techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to patched versions of Google Chrome where the WebKit rendering engine has been updated to properly handle MathML content. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of Chrome updates across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where users may be exposed to untrusted web content. Browser security configurations can also be enhanced by implementing additional security layers such as sandboxing, content security policies, and restricted browsing environments. Network security measures including web proxies, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems can help filter malicious content, though these are less effective against zero-day exploits. The vulnerability's classification as a high severity issue aligns with CWE-119, which deals with weaknesses in memory management, and potentially CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would fall under techniques related to exploitation of known vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual browsing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.