CVE-2014-3190 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the Event::currentTarget function in core/events/Event.cpp in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 38.0.2125.101, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JavaScript code that accesses the path property of an Event object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3190 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome and Chromium-based browsers. This flaw exists in the Event::currentTarget function located in core/events/Event.cpp, making it a fundamental component of the browser's event handling architecture susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability specifically manifests when JavaScript code attempts to access the path property of an Event object, creating a scenario where memory previously deallocated is accessed, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition, and operates under the broader category of memory safety issues that have plagued web browsers for years. When an attacker crafts malicious JavaScript code that triggers the Event::currentTarget function with specific timing and memory manipulation, the browser's memory management system can be forced to access memory that has already been freed and potentially reallocated. This creates a dangerous state where the application may crash due to invalid memory access or potentially execute arbitrary code if the freed memory contains attacker-controlled data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as indicated by the description mentioning "possibly have unspecified other impact." In practice, such use-after-free conditions can lead to application crashes that disrupt user experience, but more concerning is the potential for privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the memory layout and the specific nature of the freed memory block. The vulnerability affects Google Chrome versions prior to 38.0.2125.101, representing a significant window of exposure for users who had not yet updated their browsers. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious websites, phishing campaigns, or compromised web applications that would execute the crafted JavaScript code in the victim's browser context.
From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability fits within the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and potentially T1070.004 for system binary proxy execution if the browser process is compromised. The exploitation requires a user to visit a malicious website or interact with compromised content, making it a client-side attack that relies on social engineering or compromise of web infrastructure. The vulnerability's impact on browser security architecture demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software, as the fix in Chrome 38.0.2125.101 involved proper memory management and validation of Event object references. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement browser security measures such as content security policies and sandboxing to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the need for continuous security assessments of browser components and the importance of following secure coding practices to prevent memory safety issues in complex software systems.