CVE-2016-5172 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The parser in Google V8, as used in Google Chrome before 53.0.2785.113, mishandles scopes, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from arbitrary memory locations via crafted JavaScript code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5172 resides within the V8 JavaScript engine, a critical component of Google Chrome that interprets and executes JavaScript code. This flaw manifests in the parser's improper handling of scopes, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers. The issue affects Chrome versions prior to 53.0.2785.113, representing a substantial window of affected software where users were exposed to potential information disclosure threats.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in how V8 manages variable scoping during JavaScript execution. When processing malformed or crafted JavaScript code, the parser fails to properly validate scope boundaries, leading to memory access violations that can be leveraged to read arbitrary memory locations. This memory corruption behavior stems from inadequate bounds checking and scope management within the JavaScript engine's compilation and execution phases. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal memory protection mechanisms and access sensitive data that should remain isolated from user-controlled code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to web application security and user privacy. Attackers can craft malicious JavaScript payloads that exploit the scope handling flaw to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially including cookies, session tokens, personal data, or other confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions. The remote exploitation capability means that victims need only visit a malicious website or interact with compromised web content to be vulnerable to this attack vector. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios where users frequently browse untrusted websites and interact with web-based applications.
The impact of CVE-2016-5172 aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a sophisticated understanding of JavaScript engine internals and memory layout, making it suitable for advanced persistent threat actors who can develop and deploy targeted attacks. Organizations running affected Chrome versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized information access, particularly in environments where web browsers serve as primary attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate software updates to Chrome version 53.0.2785.113 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the scope handling issues. Additionally, implementing content security policies, enabling sandboxing features, and maintaining regular security updates for all browser components can help reduce exposure. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems may provide additional layers of defense, though they cannot fully compensate for the underlying engine vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potentially compromised systems and ensure comprehensive patch management across all affected environments.