CVE-2017-5050 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
An integer overflow in FFmpeg in Google Chrome prior to 57.0.2987.98 for Mac, Windows, and Linux and 57.0.2987.108 for Android allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory write via a crafted video file, related to ChunkDemuxer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5050 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within FFmpeg library components integrated into Google Chrome browser versions prior to specific patches. This vulnerability specifically affects Chrome installations across multiple platforms including macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android operating systems. The flaw resides in the ChunkDemuxer functionality which is responsible for parsing and demultiplexing media content from video files, making it a core component in multimedia processing within the browser environment. The integer overflow condition occurs when processing specially crafted video files that manipulate the expected data structures during media parsing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic overflow handling within the FFmpeg library's demuxing routines. When Chrome processes a maliciously crafted video file, the ChunkDemuxer component attempts to perform calculations that result in integer overflow conditions. This overflow leads to incorrect memory allocation sizing and subsequent out-of-bounds memory write operations, allowing remote attackers to manipulate memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in software design that directly enables memory corruption attacks. The attack vector requires only a remote delivery mechanism through web-based media content, making it particularly dangerous as users can be compromised simply by viewing malicious content within the browser.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5050 extends beyond typical browser-based exploitation scenarios, as it provides attackers with potential for arbitrary code execution within the context of the Chrome process. Successful exploitation could enable remote code execution capabilities, allowing attackers to execute malicious payloads on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Chrome versions across multiple operating systems, making it a significant threat vector for organizations and individual users who rely on Chrome for web browsing activities. The exploitation scenario typically involves a user visiting a malicious website or opening a specially crafted video file, triggering the vulnerable code path without requiring any user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it represents a client-side exploitation vector that can lead to full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5050 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches. Organizations should prioritize updating Chrome installations to versions 57.0.2987.98 for Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms and 57.0.2987.108 for Android devices, as these releases contain the necessary fixes for the integer overflow condition. System administrators should implement automated patch management solutions to ensure all affected browsers are updated promptly across enterprise environments. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious media content, employing sandboxing mechanisms that limit the impact of potential exploitation, and utilizing browser security features such as site isolation and content security policies. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and proper integer arithmetic handling in multimedia processing libraries, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party components integrated into browser environments. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory access patterns and potential exploitation attempts targeting media processing components, with particular attention to browser-based attacks that leverage multimedia libraries as attack vectors.