CVE-2013-2839 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 27.0.1453.93 does not properly perform a cast of an unspecified variable during handling of clipboard data, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2839 represents a critical memory corruption issue within Google Chrome browser versions prior to 27.0.1453.93. This flaw manifests during the processing of clipboard data operations where Chrome fails to properly handle type casting of an unspecified variable. The improper casting behavior creates a potential pathway for malicious actors to exploit the browser's memory management system. Security researchers have classified this as a denial of service vulnerability with potential for more severe consequences, though the exact nature of these additional impacts remains unspecified in the initial disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Chrome's clipboard handling mechanism which processes data exchanged between applications and the browser environment. When clipboard data is received, the browser attempts to cast or convert data types to ensure compatibility with internal structures. However, in affected versions, this casting process contains a flaw that can lead to unpredictable memory states. The unspecified variable in question likely refers to data that should be validated or properly typed before processing, but instead causes the browser to execute invalid memory operations. This type of memory corruption vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper type casting errors that have historically led to exploitation opportunities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of affected Chrome versions as it allows remote attackers to trigger system instability through clipboard manipulation. The denial of service impact means that targeted users could experience browser crashes or complete application failures, disrupting their workflow and potentially providing attackers with a means to degrade service availability. The unspecified nature of potential additional impacts suggests that exploitation could theoretically extend beyond simple denial of service to include more serious consequences such as arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where clipboard data is frequently exchanged between applications, making it a potential vector for targeted attacks against users in corporate or government settings.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in various cybersecurity frameworks including the attack pattern taxonomy where clipboard injection attacks represent a recognized threat vector. This issue demonstrates how seemingly mundane browser functionality can become a security risk when proper input validation and type safety measures are absent. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader browser security practices and the importance of maintaining current software versions. The fix for this vulnerability required Chrome developers to implement proper type casting validation during clipboard data processing, which aligns with established security practices for preventing memory corruption exploits. This incident underscores the importance of regular security updates and the critical role that automated patch management plays in protecting against known vulnerabilities that could be exploited by adversaries using techniques such as those catalogued in the attack pattern framework.