CVE-2017-5102 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use of an uninitialized value in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78 for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android allowed a remote attacker to obtain potentially sensitive information from process memory via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5102 represents a critical security flaw within the Skia graphics rendering engine that powers Google Chrome's visual rendering capabilities across multiple operating systems. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 60.0.3112.78 and impacts users on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android platforms, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of uninitialized memory values within the Skia component, which is responsible for rendering graphics and visual elements in web browsers. When processing maliciously crafted HTML content, the engine fails to properly initialize certain memory locations before utilizing their contents, creating a potential information disclosure vector that could expose sensitive data from the browser's process memory.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully constructed HTML page that triggers specific rendering paths within the Skia library. When Chrome processes such malicious content, the uninitialized memory values contain data remnants from previous operations or system processes, which can include sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-457 category of "Use of Uninitialized Variable" and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can create security exposure points. The attacker does not need to execute arbitrary code but can instead leverage the uninitialized memory access to harvest potentially sensitive information that might be present in the process memory space.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5102 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the harvested memory contents could potentially contain credentials, personal data, or other confidential information that could be used for further attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which involves data from local system, and represents a significant concern for users who may encounter malicious websites or be targeted through phishing campaigns. The remote nature of the attack means that users do not need to download or execute any additional software beyond visiting a compromised website, making this vector particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios. Organizations with mobile workforce or those relying heavily on web-based applications face heightened risk as this vulnerability affects multiple platforms and operating systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5102 primarily involve updating to Chrome version 60.0.3112.78 or later, which includes patches that properly initialize memory values before use. System administrators should prioritize patch management and ensure that all Chrome installations are updated promptly to prevent exploitation. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns, and deploying security awareness training to educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory initialization practices in security-critical software components and highlights the necessity of regular security audits and code reviews to identify similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.