CVE-2015-1246 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 42.0.2311.90, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1246 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browser. This issue affects versions prior to 42.0.2311.90 and demonstrates how seemingly minor memory access violations can escalate into significant security concerns. The vulnerability resides in the complex memory management operations that occur during web page rendering, where improper bounds checking allows malicious actors to manipulate memory access patterns. Such flaws typically emerge from the intricate interaction between browser components and the underlying operating system memory management systems, creating potential attack surfaces that adversaries can exploit to disrupt normal application behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within Blink's rendering pipeline, specifically during the processing of web content that triggers memory access beyond allocated boundaries. When a malicious web page is loaded, the renderer attempts to access memory locations that are either uninitialized or beyond the intended data structure boundaries. This out-of-bounds read operation can potentially expose sensitive memory contents, including cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data that may be stored in adjacent memory regions. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory safety and web rendering complexity, where the parser's handling of malformed or specially crafted web elements creates conditions for unauthorized memory access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against Chrome users without requiring any privileged access or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the out-of-bounds read could potentially reveal memory contents that might aid in more sophisticated attacks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain information about the browser's memory layout, which serves as a foundation for advanced exploitation techniques including heap spraying or return-oriented programming attacks. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 indicates it involves improper validation of input boundaries, making it particularly dangerous in environments where browser security is paramount.
The exploitability of CVE-2015-1246 aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the initial access and execution phases, where adversaries establish footholds through web-based attacks. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability within the broader context of browser security architecture, as it represents a common vector for privilege escalation attacks that can ultimately lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in widely used software platforms like Google Chrome means that successful exploitation can affect millions of users, making prompt remediation essential. Organizations should implement immediate patch management protocols to address this vulnerability, as the window for exploitation remains open until the affected browser versions are updated to include proper bounds checking mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Chrome version 42.0.2311.90 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent out-of-bounds memory access. Security teams should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious web content patterns associated with this vulnerability. Browser hardening techniques including sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense, though these measures are secondary to the core patching requirement. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification that the vulnerability has been properly addressed, ensuring that no residual attack surfaces remain accessible to threat actors. The remediation process should also consider the broader security posture of the organization, as this vulnerability highlights potential gaps in web application security controls that may need strengthening across the enterprise.