CVE-2019-13685 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use after free in sharing view in Google Chrome prior to 77.0.3865.90 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13685 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's sharing view functionality, affecting versions prior to 77.0.3865.90. This issue arises from improper memory management during the handling of web content, specifically when processing sharing view components that interact with HTML pages. The flaw manifests when the browser attempts to free memory that is subsequently accessed, creating a scenario where malicious code can manipulate the freed memory location to execute arbitrary instructions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of memory corruption vulnerability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted HTML page that triggers the sharing view component in a manner that causes a memory allocation to be freed while references to that memory remain active. When the browser processes such malicious content, the memory management system fails to properly track the object lifecycle, allowing an attacker to potentially overwrite freed memory with malicious payloads. This type of heap corruption can lead to complete system compromise, as the attacker can manipulate the memory layout to redirect execution flow or inject shellcode. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser rendering engine memory management and web content processing, making it particularly dangerous in the context of modern web browsing where users frequently encounter untrusted content.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-13685 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides remote attackers with a pathway to achieve arbitrary code execution within the browser context. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, phishing campaigns, or compromised web applications that deliver the crafted HTML payload. Once successfully exploited, the attacker gains the ability to execute code with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor installation. The remote nature of the exploit means that users can be compromised without any local interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 77.0.3865.90 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying automated patch management systems to ensure timely remediation. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, sandboxing mechanisms, and web application firewalls to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Network-based detection systems should monitor for traffic patterns associated with known exploit payloads, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to block malicious HTML content. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar memory corruption issues in web browser components, particularly those involving complex rendering and sharing functionality that handle user-provided content.