CVE-2017-5064 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect handling of DOM changes in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 58.0.3029.81 for Windows allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5064 represents a critical heap corruption issue within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browsers. This flaw existed in versions prior to 58.0.3029.81 and specifically affected Windows operating systems. The vulnerability stems from improper management of Document Object Model changes, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through maliciously crafted HTML content. The issue demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern web rendering engines where DOM manipulation can lead to memory safety violations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the incorrect handling of dynamic DOM modifications within Blink's JavaScript engine. When Chrome processes HTML pages containing crafted malicious elements, the engine fails to properly validate or sanitize the changes to the document structure. This improper validation allows attackers to manipulate memory locations in ways that corrupt heap structures, potentially leading to code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets memory management routines that handle DOM node modifications, making it particularly dangerous in web browsing contexts where users frequently encounter untrusted content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who browse the internet regularly, as it can be exploited through standard web navigation without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements without needing physical access to the target system. The heap corruption aspect of the vulnerability allows for sophisticated exploitation techniques including arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, and potential system compromise. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers legitimate programs to gain access to system resources, and CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially affect enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed. Organizations that rely on Chrome for business applications face increased risk of data breaches, system infiltration, and lateral movement by threat actors who can leverage this vulnerability. The Windows-specific nature of the vulnerability means that enterprise security teams must prioritize patch deployment for Chrome installations on Windows systems, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability when conducting risk assessments and incident response planning, as it represents a common attack vector that can bypass traditional security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5064 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and browser hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating Chrome to version 58.0.3029.81 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap corruption handling issue. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies, restricting browser permissions, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content. Network security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing browser isolation techniques to reduce attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current software versions and following security best practices for browser management. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated Chrome installations to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.