CVE-2016-5148 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 53.0.2785.89 on Windows and OS X and before 53.0.2785.92 on Linux, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to widget updates, aka "Universal XSS (UXSS)."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5148 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browsers across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 53.0.2785.89 on Windows and OS X platforms, and before 53.0.2785.92 on Linux systems. The flaw is categorized as a universal XSS vulnerability, meaning it can potentially bypass standard security mechanisms that protect against malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of widget updates within the browser's rendering pipeline, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Blink engine's widget update processing functionality. When the browser receives widget updates containing malicious payloads, the rendering engine fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before incorporating it into the web page context. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the user's browser session, potentially compromising user data and browser security. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the browser's architecture, affecting how dynamic content is processed and rendered, which makes it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional security measures such as content security policies and other web application security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5148 extends beyond simple script injection, as it represents a complete breakdown in the browser's security model for handling dynamic content updates. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands on behalf of the victim. The universal nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation could occur across all supported platforms without requiring platform-specific variations in attack vectors. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who seek to maximize their attack surface with minimal effort, as a single exploit could potentially compromise users across multiple operating systems. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a significant deviation from the expected security boundaries within browser implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching and updating of affected browser versions to the patched releases. Organizations should prioritize updating Google Chrome installations to versions 53.0.2785.89 or later on Windows and OS X systems, and 53.0.2785.92 or later on Linux systems. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. Security teams should also review existing security policies and ensure that users are educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browser software updated. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and highlights the necessity of comprehensive security testing that includes dynamic content handling and rendering engine validation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as strict content security policies and sandboxing mechanisms to provide defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future.