CVE-2013-2846 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the media loader in Google Chrome before 27.0.1453.93 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-2840.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2846 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's media loader component that existed prior to version 27.0.1453.93. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a scenario where malicious actors can manipulate the application's memory management to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The media loader component specifically handles multimedia content processing including audio and video files, making it a prime target for exploitation due to the complex nature of media parsing and rendering operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Chrome's handling of media resources during loading operations. When processing certain media files, the application allocates memory for media objects and subsequently frees this memory when the object is no longer needed. However, a flaw exists in the logic that governs when and how this memory is accessed, allowing attackers to trigger a race condition or manipulation of the memory state. This use-after-free condition can be exploited through crafted media content delivered via web pages, enabling attackers to cause the browser to access freed memory locations and potentially execute malicious code. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the browser's architecture, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to bypass multiple security mitigations.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2846 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the unspecified other impacts referenced in the vulnerability description suggest potential for more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform remote code execution on affected systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects all users running Google Chrome versions prior to 27.0.1453.93, representing a substantial attack surface given Chrome's widespread adoption. The exploitation vector typically involves delivering malicious media content through web pages, which when loaded in the vulnerable browser can trigger the use-after-free condition. This creates a persistent threat that can be amplified through various attack delivery mechanisms including phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements.
Security researchers categorize this vulnerability under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through browser updates, as the fix implemented by Google in version 27.0.1453.93 addressed the underlying memory management issues within the media loader component. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls, restricting media content sources, and deploying browser security extensions that can help detect and block malicious media content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices and highlights the critical need for regular security updates in client-side applications, particularly those handling complex multimedia content processing where memory corruption vulnerabilities can have severe consequences.