CVE-2018-6038 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Heap buffer overflow in WebGL in Google Chrome prior to 64.0.3282.119 allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory read via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6038 represents a critical heap buffer overflow flaw within the WebGL implementation of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 64.0.3282.119. This security issue resides in the graphics processing subsystem that handles WebGL API calls, which are essential for rendering 3D graphics directly within web browsers without requiring additional plugins. The flaw specifically manifests when the browser processes crafted HTML pages containing malicious WebGL content that manipulates memory allocation patterns in unexpected ways.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the WebGL rendering pipeline where heap memory is allocated and managed for graphics operations. When a malicious webpage triggers specific WebGL functions with crafted parameters, the application fails to validate array indices or buffer sizes properly, leading to a situation where memory access occurs beyond the allocated heap boundaries. This condition creates a heap buffer overflow that can result in out of bounds memory reads, allowing an attacker to potentially access sensitive data from adjacent memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users since it enables remote code execution through a web-based attack vector. An attacker can craft a malicious HTML page that, when loaded in a vulnerable Chrome browser, triggers the buffer overflow condition. The out of bounds memory read could potentially expose sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory locations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites or receive phishing emails with embedded malicious content.
The impact of CVE-2018-6038 aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows access beyond allocated memory regions. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Web Shell execution and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on victim systems through browser-based exploitation. The flaw demonstrates how graphics processing APIs can become attack surfaces when proper input validation and memory management practices are not implemented.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Google Chrome version 64.0.3282.119 or later, which includes patches addressing the heap buffer overflow conditions in WebGL implementations. Organizations should also implement network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block malicious web content before it reaches user browsers. Browser hardening techniques including sandboxing and privilege separation can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security awareness training helps users recognize potentially malicious web pages that might exploit such vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing browser security extensions and monitoring for suspicious WebGL activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.