CVE-2015-1237 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the RenderFrameImpl::OnMessageReceived function in content/renderer/render_frame_impl.cc in Google Chrome before 42.0.2311.90 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors that trigger renderer IPC messages during a detach operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1237 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's rendering component architecture. This issue resides in the RenderFrameImpl::OnMessageReceived function located in content/renderer/render_frame_impl.cc, which serves as a crucial interface for handling inter-process communication between the browser and renderer processes. The vulnerability specifically manifests when renderer IPC messages are processed during a detach operation, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the memory management flaw.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of object lifetimes within Chrome's multi-process architecture. When a renderer frame undergoes detachment, the system transitions through a complex state where objects may be freed from memory while still being referenced by pending IPC messages. This use-after-free condition occurs because the OnMessageReceived function fails to properly validate the existence and validity of the associated RenderFrame object before processing incoming messages. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and inter-process communication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through network-based attacks without requiring user interaction.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1237 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious web content that triggers the specific sequence of events leading to the use-after-free condition. The vulnerability affects Chrome versions prior to 42.0.2311.90, representing a significant attack surface that could be exploited in the wild to compromise user systems. The remote exploitability means that users can be targeted simply by visiting malicious websites, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for widespread deployment.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and control communications. The vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern browser security architectures where inter-process communication channels create additional attack vectors that must be carefully managed. The flaw highlights the challenges in maintaining memory safety in complex software systems where multiple processes interact through shared memory spaces and IPC mechanisms. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities often require deep understanding of the underlying architecture to both exploit and defend against, making them particularly valuable targets for advanced persistent threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1237 focus primarily on immediate patching and system updates to Chrome versions 42.0.2311.90 and later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems receive the latest security patches. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content security policies, and utilizing sandboxing technologies to limit the potential impact of successful exploits. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory management patterns within complex software systems. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual IPC message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should be updated to address potential use-after-free exploitation scenarios.