CVE-2017-15417 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Inappropriate implementation in Skia canvas composite operations in Google Chrome prior to 63.0.3239.84 allowed a remote attacker to leak cross-origin data via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15417 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's Skia graphics library implementation, specifically within canvas composite operations that occurred prior to version 63.0.3239.84. This issue stems from an inadequate handling of cross-origin data within the graphics rendering pipeline, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the browser's security boundaries. The flaw exists in the underlying graphics processing component that manages how visual elements are combined and rendered, particularly when dealing with content from different origins. The Skia library serves as a core graphics engine responsible for rendering web content, including complex visual operations that involve compositing multiple graphical elements together.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when Chrome processes HTML pages containing crafted malicious code that leverages the canvas composite operations to access memory locations that should be restricted to cross-origin resources. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of graphics rendering and memory management, where the composite operations fail to properly enforce the same-origin policy that typically prevents unauthorized access to data from different domains. Attackers can construct specific HTML pages that trigger these composite operations in a manner that reveals information about memory contents or data structures that should remain isolated between different origins. The exploitation technique involves carefully crafted canvas operations that can indirectly expose cross-origin data through memory leaks or information disclosure mechanisms inherent in the graphics processing pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to potentially reconstruct sensitive data from different origins that should be protected by browser security models. This cross-origin data leakage can include information about other websites, user sessions, or even underlying system memory structures that provide insights into the browser's internal state. The remote nature of the attack means that victims can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website, without requiring any user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles established in web security standards and can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including session hijacking or further exploitation of other browser vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15417 primarily focus on updating Chrome to version 63.0.3239.84 or later, which includes patches that properly enforce security boundaries within the Skia graphics library. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems receive the necessary security patches promptly. Network administrators can also deploy web application firewalls or content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious HTML content attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The fix addresses the root cause by strengthening the validation and enforcement of cross-origin restrictions within canvas composite operations, ensuring that graphics processing operations properly isolate data from different origins. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing additional security measures such as sandboxing or restricted browsing environments to further protect against similar attacks that may target graphics rendering components in web browsers. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1056.001 (Input Capture: Keylogging) when combined with other exploitation methods, though the primary concern remains information disclosure through graphics processing operations.