CVE-2018-17463 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect side effect annotation in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 70.0.3538.67 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17463 represents a critical security flaw in the V8 JavaScript engine used within Google Chrome browser versions prior to 70.0.3538.67. This issue stems from an incorrect side effect annotation that fundamentally compromises the sandboxing mechanisms designed to protect users from malicious code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the JavaScript engine's ability to properly handle memory management and code execution contexts, creating a pathway for remote attackers to bypass security boundaries that should isolate untrusted code from the browser's core systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in how V8 handles side effect annotations during JavaScript code compilation and execution. Side effect annotations are crucial for the JavaScript engine to understand when code execution might have unintended consequences beyond simple computation. When these annotations are incorrectly configured, the engine can make erroneous assumptions about code behavior, leading to situations where malicious code can manipulate memory locations or execution contexts that should remain protected. This misconfiguration creates a scenario where arbitrary code execution becomes possible within the restricted sandbox environment, effectively nullifying the security isolation that Chrome's architecture relies upon for user protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple browser exploitation, as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the sandboxed environment. This means that attackers can potentially access sensitive user data, perform actions on behalf of the user, or even escalate their privileges to access system resources that should be completely isolated from web content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely within the context of web browsing, making it accessible through standard web page delivery mechanisms without requiring any special user interaction or privilege escalation. Attackers can craft malicious HTML pages that, when loaded in vulnerable Chrome versions, trigger the flawed side effect handling and execute malicious JavaScript code that would normally be blocked by sandboxing mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17463 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions that have patched the side effect annotation issue. Users should promptly upgrade to Chrome 70.0.3538.67 or later, which includes fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations implementing security policies should ensure that automatic update mechanisms are enabled and that all browser installations are maintained at current security levels. Network security controls should also be enhanced to monitor for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy where sandbox escape mechanisms are leveraged to bypass browser security boundaries. The issue relates to CWE-119 which addresses memory corruption vulnerabilities, and represents a specific case where improper memory management through incorrect side effect annotations creates exploitable conditions. Security professionals should also consider implementing additional browser hardening measures and monitoring for anomalous JavaScript execution patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of similar sandbox bypass vulnerabilities.