CVE-2017-15398 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
A stack buffer overflow in the QUIC networking stack in Google Chrome prior to 62.0.3202.89 allowed a remote attacker to gain code execution via a malicious server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15398 represents a critical stack buffer overflow within the QUIC networking protocol implementation in Google Chrome versions prior to 62.0.3202.89. This flaw exists in the QUIC protocol stack which is designed to provide low-latency, secure communication over the internet. The QUIC protocol, developed by Google, combines the benefits of UDP with the reliability of TCP while adding encryption and other advanced features. The buffer overflow occurs when processing data received from a malicious server, specifically during the handling of QUIC protocol frames and headers. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow category, which is classified as a serious weakness that can lead to arbitrary code execution when an attacker can control the buffer contents.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to establish a connection to a vulnerable Chrome instance through a malicious QUIC server. When Chrome processes the malicious QUIC frames, the buffer overflow occurs in the stack memory region, potentially allowing the attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed without user interaction, as the vulnerability is triggered during normal network protocol processing. The QUIC protocol stack in Chrome handles various packet types including stream data, connection management, and flow control messages, each of which could potentially trigger the buffer overflow condition. This vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern networking stacks where protocol implementations can contain subtle memory management errors that are difficult to detect through conventional testing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows for complete remote code execution on a victim's machine without requiring any user interaction or privilege escalation. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, or compromise the entire system. The vulnerability affects all Chrome versions up to 62.0.3202.89, making it particularly dangerous as many users may not have updated their browsers. The attack can be executed over the internet without requiring physical access to the target system, and the exploitation process can be automated. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised system. The risk is compounded by the fact that QUIC is used for various web services including Google's own applications, making the attack surface wider than initially apparent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15398 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 62.0.3202.89 and later where the buffer overflow has been patched. Organizations should implement automated patch management systems to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Network administrators can also consider implementing firewall rules that block QUIC traffic if the protocol is not required for business operations, though this approach may impact legitimate web browsing. Browser security enhancements including sandboxing and memory protection features should be enabled to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The fix implemented by Google involved proper bounds checking in the QUIC protocol stack and improved memory management when processing incoming frames. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious QUIC protocol data. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential buffer overflow conditions in networking components and ensure that all software components are regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities.