CVE-2016-1612 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The LoadIC::UpdateCaches function in ic/ic.cc in Google V8, as used in Google Chrome before 48.0.2564.82, does not ensure receiver compatibility before performing a cast of an unspecified variable, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unknown other impact via crafted JavaScript code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1612 resides within the V8 JavaScript engine's LoadIC::UpdateCaches function located in ic/ic.cc. This flaw affects Google Chrome versions prior to 48.0.2564.82 and represents a critical security issue that demonstrates poor input validation and type safety mechanisms within the engine's inline caching system. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the engine processes JavaScript code that triggers the LoadIC update mechanism without properly verifying receiver compatibility before executing a cast operation on an unspecified variable.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted JavaScript code that manipulates the inline caching behavior of V8. When the LoadIC::UpdateCaches function processes certain inputs, it fails to validate whether the receiver object maintains compatibility with the expected type before performing an unsafe cast operation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 CWE category for buffer overflow conditions and CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read conditions. The improper type checking creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layouts and potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1612 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability can be leveraged through web-based exploits that do not require user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in browser environments where users frequently encounter untrusted JavaScript content. The unspecified variable cast operation creates potential memory corruption scenarios that could be exploited to alter program execution flow or access protected memory regions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to code injection and privilege escalation through browser-based exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1612 primarily focus on updating affected systems to versions of Google Chrome that contain the patched V8 engine. The official fix implemented by Google addresses the root cause by adding proper receiver compatibility checks before type casting operations within the LoadIC::UpdateCaches function. Organizations should prioritize patch management to ensure all affected browser installations are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies, enabling sandboxing features, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious JavaScript patterns. Security teams should also monitor for exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and browser security logging mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust type safety checks in JIT compilers and highlights the critical need for comprehensive input validation in high-level language interpreters.