CVE-2015-1360 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Skia, as used in Google Chrome before 40.0.2214.91, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer over-read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted data that is improperly handled during text drawing, related to gpu/GrBitmapTextContext.cpp and gpu/GrDistanceFieldTextContext.cpp, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-1205.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1360 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within Skia graphics library implementation in Google Chrome browser. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 40.0.2214.91 and stems from improper handling of crafted text data during rendering operations. The vulnerability manifests in gpu/GrBitmapTextContext.cpp and gpu/GrDistanceFieldTextContext.cpp files, which are responsible for text drawing functionality within the graphics processing unit context. The flaw occurs when the browser processes specially crafted text elements that trigger memory access violations beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting malicious text content that, when rendered by Chrome's graphics engine, causes the application to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits. Attackers can potentially leverage this issue to trigger denial of service conditions by causing browser crashes or system instability, though the vulnerability also presents potential for more severe impacts including arbitrary code execution. The exploit requires the attacker to convince a victim to visit a malicious webpage containing crafted text elements that trigger the vulnerable code path during text rendering. This attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as the vulnerability enables remote code execution through browser-based text rendering.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1360 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems with the privileges of the browser process. This represents a significant security risk for users who frequently visit untrusted websites or encounter malicious content. The vulnerability's location within the graphics processing unit text rendering context makes it particularly dangerous because GPU-based rendering operations often have elevated privileges and can access system resources directly. Organizations should prioritize patching affected Chrome versions to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability can be leveraged in targeted attacks against specific users or organizations. The issue demonstrates the importance of proper bounds checking in graphics rendering libraries and highlights how seemingly benign text processing operations can become attack vectors when memory safety controls are insufficient.
Security practitioners should implement layered defense strategies including browser updates, web application firewalls, and user education to mitigate exposure to this vulnerability. The fix for CVE-2015-1360 required Google to implement proper bounds checking and memory validation in the text rendering code paths within the Skia graphics library. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in graphics libraries and the potential for memory safety issues to create significant security risks in widely used software applications. Organizations should maintain continuous monitoring of security advisories and ensure rapid deployment of security patches to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future.