CVE-2018-6036 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient data validation in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 64.0.3282.119 allowed a remote attacker to potentially leak user data via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6036 represents a critical data validation flaw within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Google Chrome's web browser. This issue stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly validate data structures during JavaScript execution. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 64.0.3282.119, creating a persistent security risk for users operating within these outdated browser versions. The flaw resides in how V8 processes certain JavaScript constructs and handles memory management during execution, potentially allowing malicious actors to exploit these weaknesses through crafted web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully constructed HTML pages that trigger specific code paths within the V8 engine. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that manipulate JavaScript objects and memory layouts in ways that bypass normal validation checks. This particular weakness enables remote code execution scenarios where attackers can potentially access sensitive user data stored in memory or browser contexts. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory corruption and data validation failures, creating opportunities for information disclosure attacks that could compromise user privacy and system integrity.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to user confidentiality and system security. The ability to leak user data through remote code execution means that attackers can potentially access personal information, browsing history, cookies, and other sensitive data stored within the browser environment. The remote nature of the attack vector eliminates the need for physical access to target systems, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise and consumer environments. Organizations running affected Chrome versions face potential data breaches, privacy violations, and compliance issues that could result in substantial financial and reputational damage.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and demonstrates how inadequate sanitization of user-provided data can lead to serious security consequences. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation through browser-based attacks. The remediation strategy centers on immediate browser updates to version 64.0.3282.119 or later, which includes patches addressing the specific validation gaps in V8's data handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes and consider browser hardening techniques to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.
Security professionals should recognize that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how JavaScript engine flaws can create persistent security risks in web browsers. The interconnected nature of modern web applications means that such vulnerabilities can serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks, including credential theft, session hijacking, and lateral movement within compromised networks. Regular security assessments of browser configurations and proactive monitoring for exploitation indicators remain essential defensive measures against this type of vulnerability.