CVE-2014-3188 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 38.0.2125.101 and Chrome OS before 38.0.2125.101 do not properly handle the interaction of IPC and Google V8, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving JSON data, related to improper parsing of an escaped index by ParseJsonObject in json-parser.h.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3188 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 38.0.2125.101 and Chrome OS versions before 38.0.2125.101. This issue stems from improper handling of inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms combined with the Google V8 JavaScript engine's JSON parsing functionality. The vulnerability specifically affects the ParseJsonObject function within the json-parser.h file, creating a condition where escaped indices in JSON data are not properly validated or parsed. This flaw exists at the intersection of Chrome's multi-process architecture and V8's JavaScript execution environment, where IPC channels facilitate communication between different process components while V8 handles JavaScript parsing operations. The improper interaction between these systems creates a potential attack surface that remote adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting malicious JSON data containing specially formatted escaped indices that trigger the flawed parsing logic in V8's JSON parser. When Chrome processes such malformed JSON through its IPC mechanisms, the ParseJsonObject function fails to properly validate the escaped index characters, leading to memory corruption or other exploitable conditions. This vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and specifically relates to improper parsing of escaped sequences in JSON data structures. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign parsing operations can become security risks when combined with IPC mechanisms, as the escaped index handling bypasses normal validation checks that should prevent out-of-bounds memory access or code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3188 is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems without requiring user interaction or physical access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious web content that triggers the vulnerable JSON parsing path through Chrome's IPC channels. The attack vector typically involves delivering malicious JSON data through web pages, APIs, or other network-delivered content that Chrome processes through its V8 engine. This vulnerability enables attackers to potentially compromise entire user systems, as the executed code runs with the privileges of the Chrome process, which often has access to user data and system resources. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation and data theft scenarios, particularly when combined with other browser-based attack techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3188 primarily focus on immediate software updates to versions 38.0.2125.101 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the JSON parsing flaw in V8. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious JSON patterns, deploying content security policies to limit script execution, and using browser hardening techniques such as disabling unnecessary JavaScript features. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as part of the 'Exploitation for Code Execution' tactic highlights the need for layered security approaches including network monitoring for suspicious JSON traffic patterns and endpoint protection solutions that can detect anomalous parsing behavior. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running outdated Chrome versions and ensure proper remediation.