CVE-2015-1317 in Oxid
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Oxide before 1.5.6 and 1.6.x before 1.6.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possible execute arbitrary code by deleting all WebContents while a RenderProcessHost instance still exists.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2022
The CVE-2015-1317 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the Oxide rendering engine component that was prevalent in versions prior to 1.5.6 and 1.6.x before 1.6.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between WebContents and RenderProcessHost instances within the browser architecture, creating a dangerous scenario where memory management becomes compromised. The flaw occurs when the system attempts to access memory that has already been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper synchronization between the deletion of WebContents objects and the lifecycle management of RenderProcessHost instances. When all WebContents are removed from the system while a RenderProcessHost instance continues to exist, the memory allocated to the freed WebContents becomes available for reuse. However, the RenderProcessHost may still attempt to reference this freed memory during its execution, resulting in a use-after-free condition that can manifest as either a crash or potentially arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416 which specifically addresses the use of freed memory, and it demonstrates the classic pattern of improper resource management in multi-threaded environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities that make it particularly dangerous for browser environments. Attackers can leverage this flaw to crash browser processes or potentially gain unauthorized code execution privileges, which could lead to complete system compromise depending on the execution context. The vulnerability affects web browsers that utilize the Oxide rendering engine, making it relevant to a significant portion of modern web browsing applications that depend on this component for rendering web content. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need local access to the system, allowing for widespread impact through web-based attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1317 primarily focus on implementing proper memory management practices and ensuring adequate synchronization between object lifecycle management. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Oxide versions 1.5.6 or 1.6.1 and later to address the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper reference counting mechanisms and ensuring that RenderProcessHost instances are properly terminated before WebContents deletion can prevent this class of vulnerability. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal process termination patterns and memory access violations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as the potential for arbitrary code execution makes this a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems through browser-based attack surfaces.