CVE-2013-2925 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in core/xml/XMLHttpRequest.cpp in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 30.0.1599.101, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors that trigger multiple conflicting uses of the same XMLHttpRequest object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2925 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Blink rendering engine's XMLHttpRequest implementation. This flaw exists in the core/xml/XMLHttpRequest.cpp file and affects Google Chrome versions prior to 30.0.1599.101, making it a significant security concern for users of older browser versions. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management when handling XMLHttpRequest objects, specifically when multiple conflicting operations are performed on the same object instance. Such conditions create a scenario where memory previously allocated to an XMLHttpRequest object is freed but subsequently accessed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation opportunities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has been deallocated, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents or trigger arbitrary code execution. In the context of web browsers, this particular flaw manifests when JavaScript code performs operations that result in multiple concurrent or conflicting references to the same XMLHttpRequest object, causing the underlying memory management system to release resources while the application still attempts to utilize them. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the unspecified other impacts could potentially include remote code execution or privilege escalation depending on the exploitation context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to web application security since XMLHttpRequest objects are fundamental components of web communication and are extensively used in modern web applications. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious web pages that trigger specific sequences of XMLHttpRequest operations, potentially leading to browser crashes, memory corruption, or more severe consequences. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a web page that can be loaded in the affected browser, making it particularly dangerous for users who browse untrusted websites or encounter malicious content through social engineering attacks. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers legitimate program execution through web-based attacks that leverage browser vulnerabilities to achieve malicious objectives.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2013-2925 primarily involves updating to Google Chrome version 30.0.1599.101 or later, which includes the necessary memory management fixes to prevent the use-after-free condition. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing browser security policies that restrict access to untrusted websites. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of exploitation attempts through unusual memory access patterns or browser instability indicators. The fix implemented by Google addresses the core memory management issue by ensuring proper reference counting and object lifecycle management for XMLHttpRequest instances, preventing the scenario where freed memory could be accessed by subsequent operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in browser engines and highlights the need for continuous security auditing of core web components that handle asynchronous operations and resource management.