CVE-2016-1653 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The LoadBuffer implementation in Google V8, as used in Google Chrome before 50.0.2661.75, mishandles data types, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JavaScript code that triggers an out-of-bounds write operation, related to compiler/pipeline.cc and compiler/simplified-lowering.cc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1653 resides within Google V8 JavaScript engine's LoadBuffer implementation, which serves as the core execution environment for Google Chrome and other applications leveraging V8. This flaw specifically manifests in versions prior to Chrome 50.0.2661.75, where the engine fails to properly validate data type handling during JavaScript execution. The issue stems from improper type management within the compiler pipeline components, particularly affecting compiler/pipeline.cc and compiler/simplified-lowering.cc files that govern how JavaScript code is processed and optimized. The vulnerability represents a critical security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise system integrity through remote code execution or denial of service attacks.
The technical implementation flaw involves an out-of-bounds write operation that occurs when the LoadBuffer component processes crafted JavaScript code. This mismanagement of data types allows attackers to manipulate memory structures beyond their intended boundaries, creating potential pathways for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of compiler optimization and memory management, where the simplified lowering phase fails to properly validate input data before performing buffer operations. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests in a more complex memory management context specific to JavaScript engine compilation processes. The vulnerability's exploitation requires sophisticated JavaScript code crafting that can trigger the specific execution path leading to the buffer overflow condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it could potentially enable remote code execution in affected systems. When exploited, the out-of-bounds write operation could overwrite critical memory segments, leading to system crashes, data corruption, or even complete system compromise depending on the execution environment. The vulnerability affects not only Google Chrome but any application utilizing the vulnerable V8 engine version, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple applications might be running on the same infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through malicious websites, email attachments, or other vectors that deliver crafted JavaScript code to victim systems, with the attack surface expanding due to V8's widespread adoption across web browsers and server-side applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1653 primarily focus on immediate version updates to Chrome 50.0.2661.75 or later, which contain patches addressing the data type handling issues in the LoadBuffer implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, as the vulnerability remains exploitable in older versions. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and browser hardening configurations that limit the execution of potentially malicious JavaScript code. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety mechanisms in JIT compilers, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript-based attacks and T1499.004 for denial of service operations. Security teams should also consider monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns and implementing sandboxing mechanisms to contain potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on compiler and interpreter components can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other software systems that rely on similar execution engines.