CVE-2017-5059 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Type confusion in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 58.0.3029.81 for Linux, Windows, and Mac, and 58.0.3029.83 for Android, allowed a remote attacker to potentially obtain code execution via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5059 represents a critical type confusion flaw within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browsers across multiple platforms. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 58.0.3029.81 on Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems, and 58.0.3029.83 on Android devices, making it a widespread concern for users of these browsers. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of object types during JavaScript execution, creating conditions where the browser's memory management can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code.
Type confusion vulnerabilities occur when a program incorrectly handles objects of different types, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers. In the context of Chrome's Blink engine, this flaw manifests when the JavaScript engine fails to properly validate type information during object manipulation, allowing attackers to craft malicious HTML pages that can trigger unexpected behavior in the browser's memory management system. The vulnerability specifically affects how the engine processes certain JavaScript objects and their associated memory structures, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process.
The remote exploitation capability of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as attackers can deliver malicious payloads through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. The attack vector involves crafting a specially designed HTML page that, when rendered by the vulnerable browser, triggers the type confusion condition. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. The impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where browser-based attacks are a primary attack vector for advanced persistent threats.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-466, which specifically addresses the issue of returning a pointer to a data structure when a pointer to a different data structure is expected. The flaw demonstrates how improper type handling in modern web browsers can create exploitable conditions that bypass standard security mitigations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving code injection and privilege escalation, where attackers leverage browser vulnerabilities to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations should prioritize patch management to address this vulnerability, as it represents a significant risk to web-based security environments and can be exploited by threat actors without requiring advanced technical skills or user interaction beyond normal browsing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to carefully craft HTML content that can trigger specific memory corruption patterns within the Blink engine's JavaScript execution environment. This typically involves creating objects with overlapping memory layouts or manipulating object prototypes in ways that cause the engine to incorrectly interpret memory contents. The vulnerability's exploitation timeline coincides with the broader trend of browser-based attacks targeting memory corruption flaws, which have become a primary focus for both cybercriminals and nation-state actors due to their effectiveness and the broad attack surface they provide. Security teams should implement comprehensive browser security policies and consider additional mitigations beyond patching, including browser hardening configurations and network-based protections against malicious web content.