CVE-2017-5133 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Off-by-one read/write on the heap in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 62.0.3202.62 allowed a remote attacker to corrupt memory and possibly leak information and potentiality execute code via a crafted PDF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5133 represents a critical heap-based memory corruption issue within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome. This flaw manifests as an off-by-one error during heap read/write operations, which occurs when the application processes crafted PDF files through its built-in PDF viewer. The vulnerability exists in versions of Chrome prior to 62.0.3202.62, making it a significant concern for users running older browser versions. The technical nature of this issue stems from improper bounds checking during memory operations, where a single byte overflow or underflow can trigger unpredictable behavior in the heap memory management system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5133 extends beyond simple memory corruption, creating potential pathways for remote code execution and information disclosure. When a malicious PDF file is opened, the vulnerable code path triggers a heap-based buffer overflow that can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical data structures or pointers. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution if an attacker can control the overwritten memory contents, or information leakage if sensitive data is exposed through the corrupted memory regions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can deliver malicious PDF content through web pages, email attachments, or other delivery mechanisms without requiring user interaction beyond opening the file.
From a security framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121 and CWE-125, which address stack and heap-based buffer overflow conditions, respectively. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a memory corruption vulnerability that could be leveraged for privilege escalation and code execution. The heap corruption aspect particularly aligns with techniques described in ATT&CK tactic TA0004 (Privilege Escalation) and technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter). The vulnerability's exploitation requires careful crafting of PDF content that triggers the specific code path in Blink's PDF handling logic, making it a sophisticated target for advanced persistent threat actors. This type of vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern browser security architectures where PDF rendering components must handle untrusted input while maintaining memory safety.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5133 focus primarily on immediate browser updates to versions 62.0.3202.62 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the heap memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems receive updates promptly, particularly given the remote exploitability and potential for code execution. Additional defensive measures include implementing content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious PDF files, disabling PDF viewing in browser contexts where possible, and employing sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual PDF processing activities and memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-based intrusion detection systems can be configured to identify known malicious PDF signatures, while endpoint protection solutions should provide real-time monitoring of browser processes for suspicious memory operations that could indicate heap corruption attempts.