CVE-2017-5009 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 56.0.2924.76 for Linux, Windows and Mac, and 56.0.2924.87 for Android, failed to perform proper bounds checking, which allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5009 represents a critical heap corruption issue within the WebRTC implementation of Google Chrome browsers across multiple platforms. This flaw existed in versions prior to 56.0.2924.76 for Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems, and 56.0.2924.87 for Android devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms within the WebRTC component that handles real-time communication protocols. WebRTC functionality enables browser-based video conferencing, voice calling, and peer-to-peer data sharing directly within web applications without requiring additional plugins or software installations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of memory safety issues, specifically heap-based buffer overflows that can lead to arbitrary code execution. When a malicious web page crafts specially designed HTML content, it can trigger the flawed WebRTC implementation to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This improper bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate heap memory structures in ways that can lead to memory corruption, potentially enabling remote code execution. The vulnerability affects the underlying WebRTC libraries that Chrome uses to implement WebRTC functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5009 extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability can be leveraged in phishing campaigns, drive-by download scenarios, or through compromised websites that serve malicious WebRTC content. The attack surface is broad since WebRTC is increasingly integrated into web applications for communication purposes, making it more likely for users to encounter malicious content. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control communications, as successful exploitation could establish persistent access through malicious WebRTC implementations. The affected platforms include desktop operating systems and mobile environments, amplifying the potential attack vectors and user impact.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to the patched versions of Google Chrome that address the bounds checking deficiencies in the WebRTC implementation. Organizations should implement immediate patch management protocols to ensure all affected browsers are updated to versions 56.0.2924.76 or later for desktop platforms and 56.0.2924.87 or later for Android devices. Network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional layers of protection by blocking access to known malicious WebRTC implementations or suspicious web content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in security-critical components, aligning with CWE-129 which addresses insufficient bounds checking in memory operations. Browser vendors and security researchers should maintain continuous monitoring for similar memory safety issues in WebRTC implementations, as these components represent complex networking stacks that require rigorous security testing to prevent exploitation.