CVE-2013-2632 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google V8 before 3.17.13, as used in Google Chrome before 27.0.1444.3, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JavaScript code, as demonstrated by the Bejeweled game.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2632 represents a critical flaw in Google V8 JavaScript engine version 3.17.13 and earlier, which was integrated into Google Chrome browser versions prior to 27.0.1444.3. This issue demonstrates the inherent risks present in high-performance JavaScript engines that process user-controlled input through web applications. The vulnerability specifically affects the V8 engine's handling of JavaScript code execution, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the browser's behavior through carefully crafted malicious scripts. The demonstration of this vulnerability through the Bejeweled game illustrates how seemingly innocuous web applications can serve as vectors for exploitation, highlighting the importance of robust input validation and code execution safeguards.
The technical flaw manifests in the V8 engine's insufficient bounds checking and memory management mechanisms when processing certain JavaScript constructs. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted JavaScript code that triggers unexpected behavior in the engine's execution environment. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue indicates that it can cause applications to crash or become unresponsive, while the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or information disclosure cannot be ruled out. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security domains including memory safety, JavaScript engine architecture, and web browser security models, making it particularly dangerous in the context of modern web applications that heavily rely on JavaScript processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2632 extends beyond simple browser crashes to potentially compromise user security and system integrity. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to disrupt normal web browsing operations, cause persistent application failures, or potentially escalate to more severe attacks depending on the specific execution context and underlying system vulnerabilities. The attack vector through JavaScript code execution means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites or interacting with compromised web content, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in the context of social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's presence in widely used browser versions means that a significant portion of internet users were potentially exposed to this risk, with implications for enterprise security and user privacy protection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected browser versions and implementation of additional security measures including content security policies, sandboxing mechanisms, and regular security updates. Organizations should implement browser hardening practices and ensure that all systems are running patched versions of affected software to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing layered defense strategies. Security professionals should also consider monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing network-based protections to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree model and represents a typical example of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited through web-based attack vectors.
The technical aspects of this vulnerability relate to CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions in software systems, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write operations. These classifications indicate that the vulnerability involves improper handling of memory boundaries during JavaScript execution, a common pattern in JavaScript engine exploitation. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability can be mapped to various ATT&CK techniques including initial access through malicious websites, execution through script injection, and privilege escalation through browser compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates how modern JavaScript engines, while providing significant performance benefits, also create new attack surfaces that require careful security consideration and ongoing monitoring to prevent exploitation.