CVE-2013-6654 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The SVGAnimateElement::calculateAnimatedValue function in core/svg/SVGAnimateElement.cpp in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 33.0.1750.117, does not properly handle unexpected data types, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (incorrect cast) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6654 resides within the Blink rendering engine's SVG animation handling mechanism, specifically in the SVGAnimateElement::calculateAnimatedValue function located in core/svg/SVGAnimateElement.cpp. This flaw represents a classic improper input validation issue that affects Google Chrome versions prior to 33.0.1750.117, making it particularly dangerous as it impacts one of the most widely used web browsers globally. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web standards implementation and security controls, where the browser's SVG processing logic fails to properly validate data types during animation calculations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from an incorrect cast operation that occurs when the SVGAnimateElement processes animation data. When unexpected data types are encountered during the animation calculation phase, the function does not perform adequate type checking or validation before attempting to cast the data to expected formats. This improper handling creates a condition where maliciously crafted SVG content can trigger memory corruption or execution flow disruptions. The flaw aligns with CWE-704, which categorizes improper type casts as a significant weakness in software implementations, particularly in contexts involving complex data processing and transformation operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to web application security as it enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against Chrome users. The potential impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as the incorrect cast could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory corruption patterns. Attackers could craft malicious SVG files or inject harmful SVG content into web pages, which would then be processed by the vulnerable Chrome browser. This creates a vector for both availability attacks and potentially more severe exploitation scenarios, particularly when combined with other browser vulnerabilities or when users encounter such content in trusted environments.
The security implications of CVE-2013-6654 align with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through denial of service mechanisms. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly concerning for web-based attack scenarios where attackers can leverage SVG content in emails, websites, or web applications. Organizations using older Chrome versions remain at risk, as the vulnerability affects the browser's core SVG processing capabilities rather than specific web application components. The flaw demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in complex rendering engines and highlights how seemingly minor implementation gaps can create significant security risks in widely deployed software components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate browser updates to versions 33.0.1750.117 or later, where the issue has been addressed through proper type validation and error handling mechanisms. System administrators should also implement network-level protections such as SVG content filtering and web application firewalls to prevent malicious SVG content from reaching users. Additionally, browser security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that SVG processing capabilities are appropriately restricted in environments where users may encounter untrusted content, particularly in enterprise settings where user access to potentially malicious web content is more prevalent.