CVE-2016-1689 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in content/renderer/media/canvas_capture_handler.cc in Google Chrome before 51.0.2704.63 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1689 represents a heap-based buffer overflow within Google Chrome's media rendering subsystem, specifically in the canvas_capture_handler.cc file. This flaw exists in Chrome versions prior to 51.0.2704.63 and demonstrates a critical security weakness that can be exploited through malicious web content. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer allocated on the heap than it can accommodate, potentially leading to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious website that triggers the buffer overflow during canvas element processing. When Chrome processes canvas capture operations, the application fails to properly validate input data lengths, allowing attackers to write beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This memory corruption can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, denial of service conditions, or potentially more severe impacts depending on the execution context. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it may enable remote code execution under certain circumstances, making it particularly dangerous for web-based attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects all users of affected Chrome versions who visit malicious websites, creating a significant risk for both individual users and enterprise environments. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website, making it a prime candidate for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign web features like canvas element processing can become attack surfaces when proper input validation mechanisms are absent. Organizations running affected Chrome versions face potential exposure to remote exploitation, with the risk of data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to user information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1689 primarily involve immediate patching of Chrome installations to versions 51.0.2704.63 or later, which contain the necessary memory safety improvements. Security administrators should also implement web filtering solutions and browser hardening measures to reduce exposure time while patches are deployed. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based attack vectors. Additional protective measures include enabling Chrome's built-in security features such as sandboxing and site isolation, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications and browser extensions.