CVE-2013-2931 in Network Security Services
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Google Chrome before 31.0.1650.48 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or possibly have other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2931 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome browser versions prior to 31.0.1650.48, where multiple unspecified vulnerabilities exist that could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or achieve other unspecified impacts. This vulnerability type falls under the category of unspecified vulnerabilities, which typically indicates that the specific technical details were not fully disclosed in the initial reporting or that the vulnerabilities span multiple attack vectors within the browser's architecture. The absence of specific technical details in the CVE description suggests that these vulnerabilities may have been discovered through various exploitation techniques or could involve multiple underlying security weaknesses.
The technical nature of these unspecified vulnerabilities indicates that attackers could potentially leverage multiple attack vectors to compromise systems running vulnerable Chrome versions. These vulnerabilities could manifest through various means including memory corruption issues, improper input validation, or other security flaws within the browser's rendering engine, javascript engine, or other core components. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that attackers could potentially exploit different aspects of the browser's functionality to achieve code execution, making the attack surface more extensive than typical single-vulnerability exploits. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning as it suggests that the exploitation techniques may not be limited to a single approach and could potentially involve multiple attack primitives.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2931 is significant given that Chrome was widely used across enterprise and consumer environments, making this vulnerability a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user systems. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to data theft, system control, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability's potential for arbitrary code execution aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation framework, where browser-based exploits are frequently used to establish initial access points for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations running vulnerable Chrome versions were exposed to risks that could be exploited through social engineering, drive-by downloads, or other common attack vectors that leverage browser security flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2931 primarily centered around updating to Chrome version 31.0.1650.48 or later, which would contain the necessary security patches to address the unspecified vulnerabilities. System administrators and security teams were advised to implement immediate updates across their environments, as the unspecified nature of the vulnerabilities suggested that attackers could potentially exploit these flaws with relatively straightforward techniques. The vulnerability's classification as a browser security issue aligns with common mitigation approaches outlined in industry standards, where patch management and software updates represent the primary defense mechanism against known vulnerabilities. Organizations were encouraged to implement additional security measures such as browser hardening, sandboxing configurations, and network monitoring to reduce the attack surface and detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process typically involved verifying the update installation and ensuring that all users were running patched versions of Chrome to eliminate the risk of exploitation.