CVE-2014-3154 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the ChildThread::Shutdown function in content/child/child_thread.cc in the filesystem API in Google Chrome before 35.0.1916.153 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to a Blink shutdown.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2021
The CVE-2014-3154 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome's child thread shutdown mechanism that existed in versions prior to 35.0.1916.153. This vulnerability specifically affects the filesystem API implementation within the Blink rendering engine, which is responsible for handling web content and browser functionality. The issue manifests within the ChildThread::Shutdown function located in content/child/child_thread.cc, where improper memory management leads to dangerous conditions that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical flaw stems from a classic memory safety issue where memory allocated to objects is freed while references to that memory still exist within the application's execution flow. In this case, when the Blink shutdown process occurs, the ChildThread::Shutdown function fails to properly manage object lifecycles, creating a scenario where freed memory can be accessed or reused by subsequent operations. This use-after-free condition typically occurs when the browser's child thread handling mechanism attempts to clean up resources during the shutdown sequence of the Blink rendering engine. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities, making it an attractive target for remote exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. When exploited, the use-after-free condition can allow remote attackers to manipulate memory contents, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the browser's core functionality by disrupting the normal shutdown sequence of child threads responsible for handling filesystem operations and web content rendering. This disruption can manifest as browser crashes, rendering the application unusable, or more insidiously, providing attackers with opportunities to execute malicious code within the browser's security context.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions, and represents a clear violation of memory safety principles in browser security architecture. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw fits into ATT&CK technique T1059, where attackers leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code, and T1499, which involves disruption of services through denial of service attacks. The fact that this vulnerability affects the filesystem API component makes it particularly dangerous as it can potentially be combined with other exploits to access or manipulate local file systems, creating additional attack vectors for lateral movement within compromised systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions, as the vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for robust memory management practices in complex browser architectures. The incident also underscores the importance of regular security audits and continuous monitoring of browser components, particularly those handling sensitive operations like file system access and thread management.