CVE-2017-5014 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Heap buffer overflow during image processing in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 56.0.2924.76 for Linux, Windows and Mac, and 56.0.2924.87 for Android, allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory read via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5014 represents a critical heap buffer overflow flaw within the Skia graphics library component of Google Chrome browsers. This issue affects multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, Mac, and Android platforms with specific version boundaries for remediation. The flaw exists in the image processing functionality where Skia handles various graphics operations, making it a prime target for exploitation through web-based attacks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during heap memory allocation and manipulation when processing specially crafted image data within HTML documents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow condition where maliciously constructed image data triggers improper memory management within the Skia rendering engine. When Chrome processes HTML pages containing crafted graphics elements, the Skia library attempts to allocate heap memory for image processing operations without adequate validation of input boundaries. This allows an attacker to manipulate memory layout and potentially access out-of-bounds memory locations, leading to information disclosure or potential code execution. The flaw operates at the intersection of graphics rendering and memory management, where heap-based buffer overflows are particularly dangerous due to their potential for arbitrary code execution or information leakage.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution capabilities for attackers who can host malicious HTML content on web servers. The attack vector requires no user interaction beyond visiting a compromised webpage, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which directly maps to the memory corruption patterns observed in this flaw. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially allow full system compromise, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques. The vulnerability affects all supported versions of Chrome browsers, creating a significant attack surface across enterprise and consumer environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5014 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to patched versions, with Chrome 56.0.2924.76 for Linux, Windows, and Mac, and 56.0.2924.87 for Android representing the first versions that address this flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include browser hardening configurations, implementation of content security policies, and network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious image content. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation techniques to limit potential exploitation impact. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing layered security approaches to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks that leverage graphics processing components.