CVE-2013-2902 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the XSLT ProcessingInstruction implementation in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 29.0.1547.57, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to an applyXSLTransform call involving (1) an HTML document or (2) an xsl:processing-instruction element that is still in the process of loading.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2902 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the XSLT ProcessingInstruction implementation of Blink, the web rendering engine that powers Google Chrome. This flaw exists in versions prior to 29.0.1547.57 and demonstrates how improper memory management can lead to severe security implications. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of XSLT transformations when processing HTML documents or xsl:processing-instruction elements that are in transitional loading states, creating a window where memory previously allocated to processing instructions becomes available for reuse before the original reference is properly cleared.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of memory references during XSLT processing operations. When the applyXSLTransform function is invoked with either an HTML document or an xsl:processing-instruction element that is still in the process of loading, the Blink engine fails to properly manage the lifecycle of memory allocations associated with these processing instructions. This use-after-free condition occurs because the system attempts to access memory that has already been freed or reallocated, leading to unpredictable behavior patterns. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through remote web content, making it exploitable via web browsers without requiring local system access or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable more severe security consequences. While the primary effect manifests as denial of service, the use-after-free condition creates opportunities for remote code execution or arbitrary code injection, as demonstrated by the broader ATT&CK framework classification for memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers to cause browser crashes, potentially leading to system instability, or more critically, to execute malicious code within the browser context. This represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed, as the vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting compromised websites.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations, and demonstrates how improper memory management can create persistent security risks. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability affects a core browser component that handles XML processing operations. Security teams should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to prevent access to known malicious domains. The remediation process requires updating to Chrome version 29.0.1547.57 or later, which includes memory management fixes that properly handle the lifecycle of processing instructions during XSLT transformations, ensuring that memory references are properly maintained until the processing is complete.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the complexity inherent in modern browser security implementations, where the interaction between multiple components including rendering engines, XML processors, and JavaScript environments can create unexpected attack surfaces. The presence of such flaws in widely used browsers underscores the importance of continuous security assessment and rapid patch deployment strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of comprehensive security testing, particularly for components that handle external data processing, as even seemingly benign operations like XSLT transformations can become attack vectors when proper memory management is not implemented.