CVE-2016-1644 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit/Source/core/layout/LayoutObject.cpp in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 49.0.2623.87, does not properly restrict relayout scheduling, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted HTML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1644 resides within the WebKit rendering engine's Blink component, specifically in the LayoutObject.cpp file located in the core layout subsystem. This flaw manifests in Google Chrome versions prior to 49.0.2623.87, where the browser's layout engine fails to properly enforce restrictions on relayout scheduling operations. The issue stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management controls during the browser's rendering process, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited through maliciously crafted HTML content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a use-after-free condition that occurs when the browser processes certain HTML documents containing specific layout constructs. During the relayout scheduling phase, the Blink engine maintains internal data structures that track layout objects and their relationships within the document tree. When an attacker crafts HTML content that triggers specific layout scenarios, the engine may schedule relayout operations on objects that have already been freed from memory. This memory management error creates a situation where subsequent operations attempt to access deallocated memory regions, leading to unpredictable behavior including crashes or potential code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the use-after-free condition could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw by hosting malicious HTML content on web servers, which when loaded in vulnerable Chrome versions, triggers the memory corruption. The vulnerability's classification as potentially having unspecified other impacts suggests that the memory corruption could theoretically be weaponized to execute arbitrary code, though exploitation would require additional conditions and mitigations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers can leverage the browser's rendering engine to execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability's presence in the layout engine means that it operates at a fundamental level of the browser's rendering pipeline, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect any web content processed by the affected browser versions. Security researchers have noted that such layout engine vulnerabilities often require specific conditions to be met for exploitation, but once triggered, they can provide attackers with significant control over the affected system's execution environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1644 primarily involve updating to Google Chrome version 49.0.2623.87 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly restrict relayout scheduling and prevent the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional protective measures include browser hardening configurations, content security policies, and sandboxing mechanisms that can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in browser engines and highlights the ongoing need for rigorous security testing of core rendering components.