CVE-2017-5099 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in PPAPI Plugins in Google Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78 for Mac allowed a remote attacker to potentially gain privilege elevation via a crafted HTML page.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5099 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's handling of untrusted input within PPAPI (Pepper Plugin API) plugins on macOS systems. This issue affected Chrome versions prior to 60.0.3112.78 and demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation that could be exploited to achieve privilege escalation. The vulnerability resides in the plugin architecture's failure to properly validate data received from untrusted web sources, creating an attack surface that malicious actors could leverage for unauthorized system access.
PPAPI plugins serve as a crucial component in Chrome's architecture, enabling rich media experiences and extended functionality through third-party applications. These plugins operate with elevated privileges and can access system resources directly, making them attractive targets for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability stems from Chrome's insufficient sanitization of input data passed to these plugins, particularly when processing crafted HTML content that includes malicious plugin parameters. This flaw allows attackers to craft specially designed web pages that manipulate plugin behavior through malformed input data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable complete system compromise. When exploited, the vulnerability could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system control. Attackers could leverage this weakness through drive-by download scenarios where visiting a malicious website would automatically trigger the exploit without user interaction. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers could compromise systems without requiring physical access or user consent, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation" in software security standards. This categorization aligns with the fundamental flaw that allows untrusted input to bypass validation mechanisms within the plugin architecture. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," demonstrating how the initial compromise through web-based attack vectors can be leveraged to gain higher system privileges. Organizations implementing security controls should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape assessment, particularly in environments where Chrome is the primary browser and where users may encounter untrusted content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5099 focus primarily on immediate remediation through Chrome updates to version 60.0.3112.78 or later, which includes patched validation mechanisms for PPAPI plugin inputs. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict plugin execution, utilizing sandboxing technologies to limit plugin capabilities, and deploying network-based security controls such as web application firewalls to detect and block malicious content. Organizations should also consider disabling PPAPI plugins entirely where they are not required for business operations, as this removes the attack surface entirely. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of older Chrome versions within the organization, ensuring complete remediation of this vulnerability across all systems.