CVE-2016-1661 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 50.0.2661.94, does not ensure that frames satisfy a check for the same renderer process in addition to a Same Origin Policy check, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted web site, related to BindingSecurity.cpp and DOMWindow.cpp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1661 resides within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects versions prior to 50.0.2661.94, demonstrating a fundamental breakdown in the browser's security model. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that should have prevented certain cross-origin frame interactions while maintaining proper process isolation. The specific implementation resides in the BindingSecurity.cpp and DOMWindow.cpp files, which are integral components of the browser's security architecture responsible for managing frame relationships and security boundaries.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to properly enforce the same renderer process check alongside the traditional Same Origin Policy enforcement. This oversight creates a condition where malicious websites can manipulate frame relationships in ways that bypass normal security boundaries. When a crafted webpage attempts to establish frame connections, the browser fails to validate that frames originate from the same renderer process, allowing for potential memory corruption scenarios. This weakness operates at the intersection of process isolation and security policy enforcement, where the expected security boundaries are not properly maintained during frame creation and interaction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. Attackers can leverage this flaw by constructing malicious web pages that exploit the improper frame validation, leading to memory corruption that may result in browser crashes or more dangerous outcomes. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 indicates improper access control, while its potential for remote code execution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate user access and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The memory corruption aspect specifically relates to memory safety violations that can be exploited for privilege escalation or system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected browser versions to ensure proper enforcement of renderer process checks. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to maintain current security patches and consider deploying additional security measures such as content security policies and sandboxing configurations. The fix implemented by Google addresses the core validation issue by strengthening the frame relationship checks in BindingSecurity.cpp and DOMWindow.cpp, ensuring that both same origin and same renderer process requirements are properly enforced. Security teams should also monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential attack vectors targeting this specific vulnerability class.