CVE-2017-5031 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
A use after free in ANGLE in Google Chrome prior to 57.0.2987.98 for Windows 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 • 12/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5031 represents a critical use after free condition within the ANGLE graphics library component of Google Chrome browser. This flaw exists in versions prior to 57.0.2987.98 specifically affecting Windows operating systems. The ANGLE library serves as a DirectX to OpenGL translation layer that enables Chrome to render graphics content through DirectX APIs on Windows platforms, making it a crucial component in the browser's graphics processing pipeline. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management within this graphics translation layer where freed memory blocks are still being referenced or accessed by subsequent operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted HTML page that triggers specific conditions leading to the use after free scenario. When a victim visits such a malicious webpage, the browser's rendering engine processes the crafted content and executes code that causes memory to be freed while still being referenced. This creates a situation where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory location to control program execution flow. The out of bounds memory read aspect of this vulnerability allows an attacker to access memory locations beyond the intended boundaries, potentially reading sensitive data or corrupting memory structures that could lead to arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a serious memory safety issue that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or remote code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5031 is significant as it enables remote code execution capabilities against vulnerable Chrome installations. An attacker can remotely compromise a user's system simply by convincing them to visit a malicious website, making this a highly dangerous vulnerability from a threat perspective. The attack surface is broad since any user browsing the internet with an affected Chrome version is potentially at risk. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it can be exploited to execute arbitrary commands on the target system. The use after free condition can be leveraged to overwrite critical program structures or jump to attacker-controlled code locations, potentially allowing for complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the graphics rendering layer, which means it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting the malicious page.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5031 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 57.0.2987.98 or later where the memory management issues have been addressed. System administrators should ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, as this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Additional protective measures include implementing strict content filtering and web application firewalls to detect and block malicious HTML content, enabling sandboxing features within the browser, and maintaining regular security assessments of web browsing environments. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious memory access patterns or abnormal behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented by Google involved strengthening memory management routines within the ANGLE library to properly track memory allocation and deallocation, ensuring that freed memory blocks are not accessed after being released, thereby preventing the use after free condition that enabled this particular attack vector.