CVE-2013-2874 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 28.0.1500.71 on Windows, when an Nvidia GPU is used, allows remote attackers to bypass intended restrictions on access to screen data via vectors involving IPC transmission of GL textures.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2021
This vulnerability exists in Google Chrome versions prior to 28.0.1500.71 on Windows systems utilizing Nvidia graphics processing units. The flaw resides in the inter-process communication mechanism that handles graphics texture data transmission between different Chrome processes. When Chrome operates with Nvidia GPU acceleration enabled, it fails to properly validate the integrity of graphics data transmitted through inter-process communication channels, creating a pathway for malicious actors to access restricted screen information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of OpenGL texture data during IPC operations. Chrome's graphics subsystem uses Nvidia GPU drivers to render web content, but during the transmission of graphics textures between renderer and GPU processes, the system does not adequately verify the source or integrity of the transmitted data. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious web content that manipulates the IPC transmission to access screen data that should be restricted to legitimate applications. This bypasses the intended security boundaries that separate different Chrome processes and prevents unauthorized access to sensitive visual information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for users running affected Chrome versions on Windows systems with Nvidia graphics hardware. Attackers can potentially capture screen content, access sensitive information displayed on the screen, and perform visual reconnaissance without user consent. This could enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, data exfiltration, or surveillance activities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate GPU acceleration features that users typically enable for performance reasons, making the attack vector less suspicious than other forms of information disclosure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and relates to the broader category of privilege escalation issues in graphics rendering subsystems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a technique for privilege escalation and information gathering, specifically targeting the graphics processing unit as an attack surface. The attack requires minimal user interaction since it can be triggered through web browsing activities, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious website delivery methods.
Mitigation strategies include updating Chrome to version 28.0.1500.71 or later, which implements proper validation of graphics texture data during IPC transmission. Organizations should also consider disabling GPU acceleration in Chrome when running on systems where this vulnerability poses a significant risk, though this may impact performance. System administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis, particularly looking for unusual IPC communication patterns between Chrome processes. Additionally, keeping Nvidia GPU drivers updated ensures that the underlying graphics subsystem operates with the latest security patches and mitigations against similar vulnerabilities.