CVE-2018-16068 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Missing validation in Mojo in Google Chrome prior to 69.0.3497.81 allowed a remote attacker to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16068 represents a critical sandbox escape flaw within Google Chrome's Mojo framework, which is a component designed to facilitate communication between different processes in the browser's architecture. This issue affected Chrome versions prior to 69.0.3497.81 and demonstrated a significant weakness in the browser's security model that could potentially allow remote attackers to bypass the sandbox protection mechanisms. The Mojo framework serves as a core element in Chrome's multi-process architecture, enabling secure communication between the renderer process and other browser components while maintaining strict isolation boundaries. When vulnerabilities exist within this framework, they can compromise the fundamental security assumptions that protect users from malicious content.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the Mojo component, specifically in how it processes and validates data structures from untrusted sources. This missing validation allows an attacker to craft malicious HTML content that, when rendered by the browser, can manipulate the Mojo communication channels to execute arbitrary code outside the intended sandbox boundaries. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that exploits the trust relationship between different browser processes, leveraging the fact that certain Mojo interfaces were not properly validating the integrity and structure of incoming data. This flaw aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how insufficient validation in inter-process communication mechanisms can lead to privilege escalation and system compromise. The attack typically involves constructing a malicious web page that triggers specific code paths within the Mojo framework, potentially enabling an attacker to gain elevated privileges and execute code with the same permissions as the browser process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple sandbox bypass, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that Chrome employs to isolate potentially malicious content from the user's system. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The remote nature of this attack means that users could be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website or viewing a crafted email with embedded malicious content. This vulnerability particularly affects users who browse the internet regularly and may be exposed to phishing campaigns, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites that leverage this exploit. The attack vector demonstrates how modern browser security models can be undermined by flaws in underlying components, even when the main browser architecture appears secure. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious commands within the compromised browser environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16068 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, as Google released Chrome version 69.0.3497.81 to address this vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize patch management to ensure all affected Chrome installations are updated promptly, as this vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild. Additional protective measures include implementing web filtering solutions, enabling Chrome's built-in security features such as sandboxing and site isolation, and maintaining comprehensive monitoring for suspicious browser activity. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to detect potential exploitation attempts and regularly review browser security configurations to ensure optimal protection levels. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and demonstrates how even well-established security frameworks can contain critical flaws that require continuous vigilance and proactive security management.