CVE-2018-16066 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
A use after free in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 69.0.3497.81 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16066 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 69.0.3497.81 and demonstrates how improper memory management can lead to severe security implications. The flaw occurs when the browser processes crafted HTML content that triggers a specific sequence of operations resulting in memory being freed while still referenced by active code paths.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a race condition in Blink's memory management system where objects are deallocated before all references to them are properly resolved. When a malicious HTML page contains carefully constructed elements, the browser's rendering engine executes code paths that cause certain DOM objects to be freed from memory while simultaneously being accessed by other components of the rendering pipeline. This creates a window where memory corruption can occur, allowing an attacker to manipulate the heap structure and potentially execute arbitrary code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users as it enables remote code execution through web-based attacks. Attackers can craft malicious HTML pages that, when loaded in affected Chrome versions, trigger the use-after-free condition. The exploitability of this flaw is enhanced by the fact that it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios. The heap corruption resulting from this vulnerability can be leveraged to achieve privilege escalation or complete system compromise depending on the execution environment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. This classification indicates that the flaw involves accessing memory after it has been freed, a common pattern in memory safety issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in software applications to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16066 primarily involve immediate patching of Chrome browser installations to versions 69.0.3497.81 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional defensive measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content security policies, and using sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Browser hardening configurations and regular security audits should also be implemented to reduce the attack surface and improve overall system resilience against similar vulnerabilities.