CVE-2018-6057 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Lack of special casing of Android ashmem in Google Chrome prior to 65.0.3325.146 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to bypass inter-process read only guarantees via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6057 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's handling of Android ashmem memory management mechanisms prior to version 65.0.3325.146. This issue specifically targets the renderer process within Chrome's architecture where memory sharing occurs between different processes. The vulnerability stems from insufficient handling of Android's ashmem (Android shared memory) system calls within Chrome's memory management subsystem. Ashmem is designed to provide efficient shared memory allocation between Android processes while maintaining proper memory boundaries and access controls. However, Chrome's implementation failed to properly enforce these security boundaries when managing ashmem regions, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker successfully compromises the renderer process through a malicious HTML page. The attacker can leverage this flaw to bypass the intended inter-process read-only guarantees that should prevent unauthorized memory access between different Chrome processes. This bypass allows the attacker to read memory contents that should normally be protected from cross-process access, effectively undermining Chrome's security model. The vulnerability specifically affects how Chrome handles ashmem memory regions in the Android environment, where the operating system's memory management policies are not properly respected during memory sharing operations. This flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and process isolation, creating a critical gap in Chrome's security architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6057 is severe as it enables a remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive memory regions that should remain isolated between processes. This vulnerability can potentially allow attackers to extract sensitive data, including user credentials, personal information, or other confidential content stored in memory. The flaw particularly affects Android users of Chrome, where the operating system's memory protection mechanisms are not properly enforced through Chrome's implementation. Attackers can craft malicious HTML pages that trigger this vulnerability, potentially leading to data exfiltration or further exploitation of the compromised renderer process. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it undermines fundamental security boundaries that protect user data and system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6057 primarily involve updating to Chrome version 65.0.3325.146 or later, which includes proper handling of Android ashmem memory management. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing, disabling unnecessary browser features, and implementing network-based protections can help reduce the attack surface. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement proper incident response procedures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically related to improper access control mechanisms in shared memory systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1070 Indicator Removal, as attackers can use this privilege escalation to maintain persistent access and cover their tracks through memory-based attacks.