CVE-2017-5113 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Math overflow in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 61.0.3163.79 for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and 61.0.3163.81 for Android, allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5113 represents a critical mathematical overflow condition within the Skia graphics library component of Google Chrome browsers. This flaw exists in versions prior to 61.0.3163.79 for macOS, Windows, and Linux platforms, and 61.0.3163.81 for Android devices, making it a widespread issue affecting multiple operating systems and mobile platforms. The Skia library serves as a core graphics rendering engine responsible for processing and displaying visual elements on web pages, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to compromise user systems through web-based attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of mathematical operations within the Skia graphics library when processing certain HTML elements. Specifically, the overflow occurs during calculations involving graphic rendering parameters, where mathematical operations exceed the maximum representable values for the data types involved. This mathematical overflow condition creates a scenario where heap memory corruption can occur, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests when a specially crafted HTML page is loaded in the vulnerable browser, triggering the problematic code path in the graphics rendering pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser exploitation, as it enables remote code execution capabilities that could lead to complete system compromise. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that, when visited by unsuspecting users, trigger the mathematical overflow condition and subsequently corrupt heap memory structures. This heap corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. The cross-platform nature of this vulnerability means that users across different operating systems and device types are equally at risk, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-191, which specifically addresses integer underflow or overflow conditions, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web browsers and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and mathematical operation handling in graphics libraries, where seemingly benign rendering operations can become attack vectors. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to remote system compromise. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and browser security policies can provide additional layers of protection while awaiting full patch deployment. The incident underscores the necessity for regular security assessments of graphics rendering components and proper memory management practices in browser engines to prevent similar mathematical overflow conditions from occurring in the future.