CVE-2017-15413 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Type confusion in WebAssembly in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 63.0.3239.84 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2023
CVE-2017-15413 represents a critical type confusion vulnerability within the WebAssembly implementation of Google Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of data types during WebAssembly module execution, creating conditions where the runtime environment incorrectly interprets memory structures. The flaw manifests when the V8 engine processes maliciously crafted WebAssembly code that exploits type confusion between different data structures, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential memory corruption. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-466 as "Use of sizeof() on a Pointer Type" and more specifically relates to improper type handling in memory management operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed HTML page that contains malicious WebAssembly bytecode. When Chrome renders such a page, the V8 engine's WebAssembly interpreter fails to properly validate type information during execution, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory layout through crafted instructions. This type confusion enables attackers to overwrite memory locations that should remain protected, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. The attack vector leverages the WebAssembly specification's dynamic typing features and the V8 engine's internal memory management mechanisms, creating opportunities for heap corruption that can be exploited remotely.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web application security and user privacy. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The impact extends beyond simple exploitation as the heap corruption can lead to system instability, data breaches, or complete system compromise depending on the execution environment. The vulnerability affects all versions of Chrome prior to 63.0.3239.84, making it particularly dangerous as millions of users would be exposed to potential attacks through standard web browsing. The attack surface is broad due to WebAssembly's increasing adoption in modern web applications and the widespread use of Chrome as a primary browser.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2017-15413 requires immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 63.0.3239.84 or later, which includes enhanced type validation and memory management checks within the V8 engine's WebAssembly implementation. Organizations should implement browser security policies that enforce automatic updates and monitor for vulnerable browser versions in their environments. Network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional defense-in-depth layers, though they cannot fully mitigate the risk without proper browser patching. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious WebAssembly code execution patterns and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for WebAssembly-based attacks highlights the importance of monitoring and defending against emerging scripting language exploitation techniques in modern browser environments.