CVE-2014-7908 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in the CheckMov function in media/base/container_names.cc in Google Chrome before 39.0.2171.65 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a large atom in (1) MPEG-4 or (2) QuickTime .mov data.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7908 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Google Chrome's media processing subsystem, specifically affecting the CheckMov function in the media/base/container_names.cc file. This issue exists in Chrome versions prior to 39.0.2171.65 and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in how the browser handles multimedia container format parsing, particularly when processing MPEG-4 and QuickTime .mov files. The vulnerability falls under the category of software security flaws that can be exploited to disrupt normal system operations or potentially execute arbitrary code, making it a significant concern for web browser security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic within the CheckMov function, which is responsible for validating media container structures. When processing large atom data within MPEG-4 or QuickTime .mov files, the function fails to properly validate integer values before performing arithmetic operations, leading to integer overflows that can result in memory corruption. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can cause unexpected behavior in software systems. The flaw occurs during the parsing of media container headers where the application attempts to calculate buffer sizes or offsets based on data provided in the atom structures, without adequate bounds checking.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as demonstrated by the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious media files containing oversized atoms that trigger the integer overflow condition when Chrome attempts to parse them. This exploitation can lead to browser crashes, application instability, and potentially more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution in memory corruption scenarios. The vulnerability affects the core media processing pipeline of Chrome, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities when users encounter malicious media content on compromised websites.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause system disruption. The attack surface is broad as it affects any user who visits web pages containing malicious media content, making it particularly dangerous in the context of modern web browsing where multimedia content is ubiquitous. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation potential increases when combined with other browser flaws, as it can serve as a foundational weakness for more complex attack chains. The integer overflow occurs during the parsing of media container structures, which means that legitimate media files could potentially be modified to include malicious atom data that triggers this condition.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7908 primarily focus on updating to patched versions of Google Chrome, specifically version 39.0.2171.65 or later, which contain the necessary code modifications to prevent integer overflows in the CheckMov function. Organizations should implement robust patch management processes to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user interaction. Additionally, browser hardening measures including sandboxing and content filtering can provide additional defense layers, though the primary mitigation remains the software update. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls to monitor for suspicious media file content and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a memory safety issue underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar integer overflow conditions in other parts of the browser's media processing pipeline.