CVE-2016-5177 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in V8 in Google Chrome before 53.0.2785.143 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5177 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Google Chrome. This particular weakness resides in the engine's memory management system where a freed memory location is still being accessed or referenced, creating potential exploitation vectors for remote attackers. The vulnerability affects Chrome versions prior to 53.0.2785.143, making it a significant concern for users running outdated browser versions. The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the domain of memory safety vulnerabilities that can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability can result in multiple security outcomes including denial of service through browser crashes and potentially more severe consequences. When a memory location is freed but subsequent code attempts to access that memory, the system may crash or behave unpredictably. In the context of a browser engine, this can manifest as complete application failure or more insidiously, allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest that this vulnerability may enable privilege escalation or other advanced attack vectors beyond simple crash conditions. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5177 extends beyond immediate system crashes to potentially compromise entire user environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attacks, particularly when users visit compromised websites or click on malicious links. The remote nature of the exploit means that no local system compromise is required, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks. From an attack chain perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and execution phases, where adversaries establish footholds through web-based delivery mechanisms. The vulnerability's presence in the V8 engine means that exploitation could occur across multiple platforms and operating systems where Chrome is deployed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate browser updates to versions 53.0.2785.143 or later where the memory management issues have been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all Chrome installations are current with security updates. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as sandboxing, content security policies, and restricted JavaScript execution can provide additional defense layers. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential attack patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the need for robust memory safety practices in high-impact software components like JavaScript engines. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and browser security extensions to add additional protective barriers against such attacks.