CVE-2017-5107 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
A timing attack in SVG rendering in Google Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78 for Linux, Windows, and Mac allowed a remote attacker to extract pixel values from a cross-origin page being iframe'd via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5107 represents a critical timing attack flaw in Google Chrome's SVG rendering engine that existed across multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS. This security weakness specifically affected Chrome versions prior to 60.0.3112.78 and exploited the temporal characteristics of how the browser processes Scalable Vector Graphics elements. The vulnerability stems from the way Chrome handles cross-origin iframe content during SVG rendering operations, creating observable timing differences that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a sophisticated timing attack methodology where an attacker crafts a malicious HTML page that embeds a cross-origin iframe containing SVG content. When Chrome renders this content, the timing variations in pixel processing between different visual states create measurable differences that can be exploited to infer pixel values from the target cross-origin page. This attack exploits the fundamental principle that different visual content patterns require varying amounts of processing time, creating a side-channel leakage mechanism. The flaw resides in Chrome's SVG rendering pipeline where the browser's handling of cross-origin content does not adequately account for timing variations that could reveal sensitive information.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5107 is significant as it enables remote attackers to perform cross-origin data exfiltration without requiring direct access to the target system or user credentials. This vulnerability specifically targets the security boundaries between same-origin policy enforcement and cross-origin iframe rendering, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security mechanisms. The attack can be executed entirely through web-based means, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no local system compromise or privileged access. The extracted pixel data could potentially reveal sensitive information such as user interface elements, content patterns, or even partial data from the target page, depending on the nature of the cross-origin content being accessed.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-203, which describes "Observable Behavioral Vulnerability," and represents a classic example of timing side-channel attacks that can be used to extract information from systems. The attack pattern follows ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1566 for social engineering through malicious content delivery. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Chrome version 60.0.3112.78 or later, which addresses the timing variations in SVG processing. Additional protective measures include implementing strict Content Security Policies that limit iframe usage, monitoring for suspicious SVG content patterns, and ensuring proper cross-origin resource sharing policies are in place. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for comprehensive testing of rendering engines against side-channel attack vectors that could compromise user privacy and data confidentiality.