CVE-2014-1702 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the DatabaseThread::cleanupDatabaseThread function in modules/webdatabase/DatabaseThread.cpp in the web database implementation in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 33.0.1750.149, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact by leveraging improper handling of scheduled tasks during shutdown of a thread.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The CVE-2014-1702 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the web database implementation of the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browser. This vulnerability specifically resides in the DatabaseThread::cleanupDatabaseThread function located in modules/webdatabase/DatabaseThread.cpp, making it a core component of the browser's database management system. The flaw manifests during the shutdown process of database threads when scheduled tasks are improperly handled, creating a dangerous condition where memory previously freed by the system can still be accessed by malicious code. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a web page triggers database operations that are scheduled for execution during thread shutdown. When the DatabaseThread attempts to clean up its resources, the cleanupDatabaseThread function fails to properly manage the lifecycle of scheduled tasks, leading to a situation where freed memory addresses may still be referenced. This improper memory management creates a race condition where the system attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated, potentially allowing remote attackers to manipulate the freed memory contents. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the thread management and resource cleanup procedures within the web database subsystem, where the shutdown sequence does not adequately account for pending or scheduled operations that might still reference freed memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling more severe security consequences. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to cause unpredictable behavior in the browser, including crashes, application instability, and in some cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation techniques employed. The vulnerability affects Google Chrome versions prior to 33.0.1750.149, representing a significant portion of the browser's user base during that time period. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can lead to complete browser compromise, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. This represents a serious threat in the context of modern browser security, as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction or privileges beyond accessing a malicious website.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to the patched release 33.0.1750.149 or later, which implements proper memory management and cleanup procedures for database threads. The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that scheduled tasks are properly cancelled or executed before memory deallocation occurs during thread shutdown. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to prevent access to malicious websites that may exploit this vulnerability. Browser hardening techniques including sandboxing, privilege separation, and memory protection mechanisms should be enabled to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it represents a classic client-side exploit that can be delivered through web-based attack vectors. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper resource management in multi-threaded environments and underscores the necessity of thorough testing during shutdown procedures to prevent use-after-free conditions that can be exploited in real-world scenarios.