CVE-2013-6627 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
net/http/http_stream_parser.cc in Google Chrome before 31.0.1650.48 does not properly process HTTP Informational (aka 1xx) status codes, which allows remote web servers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6627 resides within the HTTP stream parser component of Google Chrome browser version 31.0.1650.48 and earlier. This issue stems from improper handling of HTTP Informational status codes, which are defined in RFC 7231 as responses with status codes in the 1xx range. These codes serve as interim responses indicating that the request has been received and is being processed, with common examples including 100 Continue, 101 Switching Protocols, and 102 Processing. The flaw manifests when Chrome encounters a malformed 1xx response from a remote web server, leading to an out-of-bounds memory read operation that can crash the browser process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the http_stream_parser.cc file which processes HTTP responses received from web servers. When Chrome receives an HTTP response containing a 1xx status code, the parser fails to validate the response structure properly, particularly when the response contains unexpected or malformed data. This processing error results in the parser attempting to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, creating a classic out-of-bounds read condition. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which is a well-known class of memory safety issues that can lead to unpredictable behavior including crashes, data corruption, or in some cases, potential code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant denial of service threat to Chrome users. Attackers can craft malicious web server responses containing specially crafted 1xx status codes that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition in Chrome's HTTP parser. When a user visits a compromised website, the browser will automatically process the malformed response, causing an immediate crash or hang. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it requires no user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site, making it an effective vector for automated attacks. The impact extends beyond simple browser crashes, as repeated exploitation could lead to persistent service disruption for affected users.
The attack surface for CVE-2013-6627 aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1211 technique for exploitation of remote services, specifically targeting the web browser as a primary attack vector. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocol parsers, as HTTP status code handling is a critical component of web browser security. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and defensive programming practices, where the parser should have validated all incoming data before attempting to process it. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately, as Chrome versions prior to 31.0.1650.48 remain susceptible to exploitation. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious HTTP responses, though this represents a secondary mitigation approach. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of memory safety in browser implementations and the necessity of comprehensive testing for edge cases in protocol handling components.