CVE-2016-5186 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Devtools in Google Chrome prior to 54.0.2840.59 for Windows, Mac, and Linux; 54.0.2840.85 for Android incorrectly handled objects after a tab crash, which allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory read via crafted PDF files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5186 represents a critical memory safety issue within Google Chrome's developer tools component that affected multiple platform versions prior to specific patch releases. This flaw existed in Chrome versions for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android platforms, demonstrating the widespread nature of the memory corruption vulnerability. The issue specifically manifested when Chrome's developer tools processed objects that had been created during a tab crash scenario, creating a dangerous condition that could be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurred through crafted PDF files that triggered an out of bounds memory read condition within Chrome's memory management system. When a tab crashed and subsequent objects were handled by the developer tools, the memory access controls failed to properly validate the boundaries of memory regions being accessed. This improper handling allowed attackers to read memory locations that should have been protected or inaccessible, potentially exposing sensitive data or system information. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that are particularly dangerous because they can lead to information disclosure or potentially more severe exploitation outcomes.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5186 extends beyond simple information disclosure as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather sensitive information from the victim's system memory, potentially including credentials, session tokens, or other confidential data that might be stored in memory regions accessible through the flawed object handling. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in browser environments where users frequently interact with untrusted content, making the attack surface quite broad. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through compromised browser components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to address the memory handling flaw in developer tools. System administrators and users needed to update to Chrome versions 54.0.2840.59 for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, and 54.0.2840.85 for Android devices to eliminate the risk. The patch implementation addressed the improper memory boundary checks that occurred during tab crash recovery scenarios, ensuring that objects handled by developer tools properly validated memory access operations. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management procedures to address this vulnerability promptly, as browser-based attacks often have immediate exploitation potential and can be automated at scale. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of memory safety controls in browser environments and highlights the need for continuous security testing of core browser components including developer tools that are frequently accessed by users during normal browsing operations.