CVE-2017-5119 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use of an uninitialized value 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 obtain potentially sensitive information from process memory via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5119 represents a critical memory safety issue within the Skia graphics library that forms a core component of Google Chrome's rendering engine. This flaw exists in Chrome versions prior to 61.0.3163.79 for macOS, Windows, and Linux platforms, as well as version 61.0.3163.81 for Android devices. The issue stems from the improper handling of uninitialized memory values during graphics processing operations, creating a potential information disclosure vector that could be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of uninitialized variables in software systems. When Chrome processes web content through the Skia graphics library, specific code paths fail to properly initialize memory variables before accessing their contents. This uninitialized memory may contain remnants of previous data operations, potentially exposing sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system memory contents to malicious actors. The flaw occurs during the rendering of HTML pages that contain crafted graphics elements designed to trigger the specific code path where uninitialized memory is accessed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to user privacy and system security as it enables remote attackers to perform information leakage attacks without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed through standard web browsing activities, making it difficult for users to protect themselves. The disclosed information could include sensitive data from other applications running in the same process memory space, potentially leading to credential theft, session hijacking, or further exploitation of the compromised system. This vulnerability demonstrates how graphics rendering components can serve as unexpected attack surfaces in modern web browsers.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability allows for passive information disclosure without requiring any user interaction. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider deploying web application firewalls or content filtering solutions to block known malicious content. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in browser functionality. Additionally, browser vendors and security teams should conduct regular security assessments of graphics libraries and rendering engines to identify similar uninitialized variable vulnerabilities that could compromise system security. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory initialization practices in security-critical software components and serves as a reminder of the complex attack surfaces present in modern browser architectures.