CVE-2014-7928 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
hydrogen.cc in Google V8, as used Google Chrome before 40.0.2214.91, does not properly handle arrays with holes, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JavaScript code that triggers an array copy.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7928 resides within the V8 JavaScript engine component of Google Chrome, specifically within the hydrogen.cc file that governs the compilation and execution of JavaScript code. This flaw represents a critical memory management issue that affects versions of Chrome prior to 40.0.2214.91, where the engine fails to properly handle arrays containing gaps or holes in their indexing structure. The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sparse arrays during the array copy operation, creating a scenario where malicious JavaScript code can manipulate the memory layout in unexpected ways.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests as either a denial of service condition through memory corruption or potentially more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. Attackers can craft specific JavaScript payloads that create arrays with holes and then perform copy operations on these structures, triggering undefined behavior within the V8 engine's memory management subsystem. This flaw operates at the intersection of several cybersecurity domains including memory safety, JavaScript engine security, and browser-based attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in the context of modern web browsing environments where complex JavaScript applications are commonplace.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to code injection and privilege escalation through browser exploitation. The memory corruption occurs during the array copy process where the V8 engine's hydrogen compiler fails to properly validate or handle the sparse array structure, leading to memory layout inconsistencies that can be exploited by remote attackers. This type of vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in how the JavaScript engine manages memory allocation and deallocation for sparse array structures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate heap memory through carefully constructed JavaScript code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7928 primarily focus on immediate software updates to Chrome versions 40.0.2214.91 and later, which contain patches addressing the array handling logic in the hydrogen.cc component. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected browsers are updated promptly, as this vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attack vectors without user interaction. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies, enabling sandboxing features, and monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented by Google involved strengthening the validation mechanisms within the V8 engine's array copy operations to properly handle sparse array structures and prevent memory corruption during these operations, aligning with industry best practices for JavaScript engine security hardening.