CVE-2017-5051 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-2017-5051 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within FFmpeg library components that are integrated into Google Chrome browser versions prior to specific patch releases. This issue specifically affects Chrome's handling of video content through the ChunkDemuxer component, which is responsible for parsing and demultiplexing media files into their constituent streams. The vulnerability manifests when Chrome processes crafted video files that contain maliciously constructed data structures, leading to improper integer arithmetic during memory allocation calculations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through an integer overflow condition that causes the ChunkDemuxer to miscalculate memory requirements for buffer allocation. When the malicious video file contains specially crafted chunk size values, the integer arithmetic overflows beyond the maximum representable value, resulting in a significantly smaller allocated memory buffer than required. This insufficient buffer allocation creates a scenario where subsequent memory writes exceed the allocated boundaries, enabling an out-of-bounds memory write condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe remote code execution risk that allows attackers to craft malicious video files designed to trigger the integer overflow during Chrome's media processing. The attack vector requires only that a user visit a web page containing the malicious video content or download and open the crafted file, making it particularly dangerous for web-based exploitation. The vulnerability affects multiple platform targets including Mac, Windows, Linux desktop systems, and Android mobile platforms, demonstrating the widespread impact across different operating environments.
The exploitability of CVE-2017-5051 aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of "Exploitation for Client Execution" where attackers leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code on target systems. This vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which describes the condition where integer arithmetic produces a result that exceeds the maximum value that can be represented by the data type. The security implications extend beyond simple memory corruption as the out-of-bounds write can potentially overwrite critical program structures or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to the patched releases 57.0.2987.98 for Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms, and 57.0.2987.108 for Android devices. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as content filtering to block suspicious media files and consider browser hardening measures including sandboxing and privilege separation. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted media content and maintain current software updates to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the FFmpeg library ecosystem that may present analogous integer overflow risks.