CVE-2014-3178 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in core/dom/Node.cpp in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 37.0.2062.120, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact by leveraging improper handling of render-tree inconsistencies.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The CVE-2014-3178 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browsers. This vulnerability exists in the core/dom/Node.cpp file and specifically targets the improper handling of render-tree inconsistencies during browser operations. The flaw manifests when the browser processes web content that triggers inconsistent states between the document object model and the render tree structure, creating conditions where memory locations may be freed while still being referenced by active processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the interaction between the DOM (Document Object Model) and the render tree within Blink's architecture. When certain web page elements trigger render-tree updates, the Node.cpp component fails to properly manage memory references, leading to situations where freed memory blocks are accessed or manipulated by subsequent operations. This improper memory management creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the browser's memory state through carefully crafted web content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through web pages without requiring user interaction, making it an ideal candidate for drive-by attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3178 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause unpredictable behavior in the browser, ranging from application crashes and hangs to more sophisticated exploitation techniques that may allow them to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. The remote exploitation capability means that victims can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites, without any additional interaction required from the user. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when embedded in compromised websites that users might regularly visit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate browser updates to versions that contain the patched Blink rendering engine components. System administrators should prioritize deployment of Chrome version 37.0.2062.120 or later, which includes memory management fixes addressing the render-tree inconsistency handling. Organizations should implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block access to known malicious domains. Additionally, browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary browser features, implementing strict content security policies, and maintaining regular patch management schedules can reduce the attack surface. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution.
The vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern browser security architectures where memory management issues in core components can have cascading effects throughout the entire browser stack. This particular flaw underscores the importance of proper resource management in rendering engines and highlights how inconsistencies between different browser subsystems can create exploitable conditions. Security researchers have noted that similar vulnerabilities in browser rendering engines often stem from insufficient validation of object lifecycles during complex DOM manipulations, making this type of vulnerability particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional security measures alone.