CVE-2014-3191 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 38.0.2125.101, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JavaScript code that triggers a widget-position update that improperly interacts with the render tree, related to the FrameView::updateLayoutAndStyleForPainting function in core/frame/FrameView.cpp and the RenderLayerScrollableArea::setScrollOffset function in core/rendering/RenderLayerScrollableArea.cpp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The CVE-2014-3191 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browsers. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 38.0.2125.101 and demonstrates a fundamental memory management error that can be exploited through carefully crafted JavaScript code. The flaw specifically manifests when the browser processes widget-position updates that interact improperly with the render tree structure, creating conditions where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the FrameView::updateLayoutAndStyleForPainting function located in core/frame/FrameView.cpp and the RenderLayerScrollableArea::setScrollOffset function in core/rendering/RenderLayerScrollableArea.cpp. These components work together to manage the visual layout and scrolling behavior of web content, but when they encounter malformed JavaScript input during widget positioning operations, they fail to properly validate memory references. The use-after-free condition arises because the rendering system attempts to access objects that have already been freed from memory, creating a scenario where attackers can manipulate the browser's memory state to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution and system compromise. Attackers can craft malicious JavaScript payloads that trigger the specific code paths involving widget positioning updates, causing the browser to execute unintended memory operations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which categorizes use-after-free conditions as a critical memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it operates within the browser's core rendering engine, making it accessible through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1068 for local privilege escalation. The exploit chain typically involves delivering malicious JavaScript through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, where the crafted code triggers the memory corruption during normal browsing operations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution threat means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain complete control over the victim's browser session and potentially the underlying operating system. Organizations should prioritize patch management and browser updates to address this vulnerability, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains significant given the widespread use of affected Chrome versions in enterprise environments.
The remediation approach for CVE-2014-3191 requires immediate deployment of Chrome version 38.0.2125.101 or later, which includes patches addressing the memory management issues in both FrameView.cpp and RenderLayerScrollableArea.cpp. Security teams should implement browser hardening measures including content security policies and sandboxing configurations to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious JavaScript activity and implementing web application firewalls can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential use-after-free conditions in their browser environments and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to address similar memory safety issues that may emerge in the future.