CVE-2016-5147 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 53.0.2785.89 on Windows and OS X and before 53.0.2785.92 on Linux, mishandles deferred page loads, which allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted web site, aka "Universal XSS (UXSS)."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5147 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browsers across multiple operating systems. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 53.0.2785.89 on Windows and OS X platforms, and before 53.0.2785.92 on Linux systems, demonstrating the widespread nature of the vulnerability across the Chrome ecosystem. The flaw operates through a sophisticated mechanism involving deferred page loads, which creates a window of opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in Blink's improper handling of deferred page loading operations, creating a condition where malicious content can be injected during the page rendering process. When a web page is loaded with deferred elements, the browser's rendering engine processes these elements in a specific sequence that can be manipulated by attackers. This mismanagement allows remote adversaries to craft malicious websites that exploit the timing gap between when page elements are initially processed and when they are fully rendered, enabling the execution of unauthorized JavaScript or HTML code. The vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between the browser's page loading mechanism and its security boundaries, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass standard security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5147 is particularly severe as it enables what is known as Universal XSS or UXSS attacks, where malicious code can be executed across different contexts and origins within the browser environment. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject scripts that can access cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive data that the browser maintains for the user. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through seemingly benign web pages, making it difficult for users to identify compromised sites. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to perform actions as if they were the authenticated user, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive applications or services that the user has authenticated to.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a sophisticated exploitation technique that can be mapped to various ATT&CK tactics including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The vulnerability demonstrates how complex browser rendering engines can contain subtle timing-based flaws that create security weaknesses, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive security testing that considers not just static code analysis but also dynamic execution flows and timing dependencies. Organizations and users must understand that this vulnerability requires immediate remediation through browser updates, as the window of opportunity for exploitation exists during normal browsing operations. The impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially compromise entire corporate networks through credential theft and session manipulation, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed.