CVE-2018-17478 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect array position calculations in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 70.0.3538.102 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit object corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2024
CVE-2018-17478 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 70.0.3538.102. This flaw resides within the V8 JavaScript engine, which serves as the core component responsible for executing JavaScript code in Chrome browsers. The vulnerability stems from incorrect array position calculations that can lead to improper memory management during JavaScript object operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTML pages that trigger specific array manipulation sequences, potentially causing memory corruption that may result in arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to users as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The attack vector leverages the browser's JavaScript engine to manipulate array objects in ways that bypass normal memory protection mechanisms. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise user systems. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is further enhanced by the widespread usage of Google Chrome, which affects millions of users globally. The root cause lies in the V8 engine's handling of array position calculations where boundary checks are insufficient or improperly implemented, allowing attackers to manipulate memory locations that should remain protected. This flaw demonstrates the complexity of modern JavaScript engines and the challenges in ensuring memory safety when handling dynamic array operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable privilege escalation and system compromise, as attackers can leverage the corrupted memory state to gain deeper access to affected systems. Security researchers have classified this as a high-severity issue due to its remote exploitability and the potential for full system compromise. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions and implement additional security measures such as content security policies and sandboxing configurations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation and memory management practices in browser engines, particularly when handling dynamic data structures like arrays. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including execution through web-based attacks and privilege escalation via memory corruption. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specific JavaScript code that triggers the array boundary condition, followed by memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This type of vulnerability requires continuous monitoring and patch management to prevent successful exploitation attempts in real-world scenarios. The remediation approach centers on updating Chrome to version 70.0.3538.102 or later, where the array position calculation logic has been corrected to properly validate array indices and prevent out-of-bounds memory operations. Additionally, browser security teams should implement enhanced runtime checks and memory protection mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions. The incident underscores the critical need for thorough code review processes in complex software systems and the importance of automated testing for memory safety issues in high-risk components like JavaScript engines.