CVE-2018-16071 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
A use after free in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 69.0.3497.81 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted video file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16071 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the WebRTC implementation of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 69.0.3497.81. This flaw resides in the handling of multimedia data streams and specifically affects the processing of crafted video files that can trigger memory corruption issues. The vulnerability manifests when the browser encounters specially constructed media content that causes the WebRTC component to attempt to access memory that has already been freed, creating a scenario where malicious code could potentially execute arbitrary instructions. The flaw operates at the intersection of multimedia processing and memory management, leveraging the complex interaction between WebRTC's real-time communication capabilities and the browser's memory allocation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious video file that can trigger the specific memory access pattern leading to the use-after-free condition. When Chrome processes such a file, the WebRTC subsystem allocates memory for video processing operations and subsequently frees this memory while still maintaining references to it. If the application attempts to access this freed memory location, it can result in heap corruption that may allow for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where program memory is accessed after it has been freed, making it a prime target for exploitation in memory corruption attacks. The attack vector is remote and requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a crafted file, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-16071 extends beyond simple browser compromise as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process. This capability allows for potential elevation of privileges, data exfiltration, system compromise, and persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability affects all users of affected Chrome versions and presents a significant risk in environments where users may encounter malicious content through web browsing, email attachments, or malicious websites. The WebRTC component's integration with modern web applications means that this vulnerability could be exploited through various attack surfaces including video conferencing applications, streaming services, and any web application utilizing real-time communication features. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it operates at the browser level where memory corruption can lead to full system compromise without requiring additional attack primitives.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16071 center on immediate software updates to Chrome version 69.0.3497.81 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all affected systems are updated promptly, as this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Additional defensive measures include implementing web content filtering solutions, enabling sandboxing features within the browser, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts highlights the potential for privilege escalation and persistent access once the initial exploitation succeeds. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening configurations, disabling unnecessary WebRTC features, and monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running outdated browser versions that remain at risk from this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.