CVE-2019-13698 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds memory access in JavaScript in Google Chrome prior to 73.0.3683.103 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
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw in Google Chrome's JavaScript engine that could enable remote code execution through malicious web pages. The issue affects Chrome versions prior to 73.0.3683.103 and stems from improper bounds checking during JavaScript execution, specifically within the memory management subsystem that handles heap operations. The vulnerability manifests when processing crafted HTML content that triggers malformed memory access patterns, potentially leading to heap corruption that adversaries could exploit to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read category, which is classified as a common weakness in software security practices. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious webpage that, when loaded in Chrome, triggers the vulnerable code path. The exploitation typically involves manipulating JavaScript objects in ways that bypass memory safety mechanisms, ultimately allowing attackers to corrupt heap memory structures and potentially gain control over the browser process. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1203 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The impact extends beyond simple browser compromise as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other attack techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern browser security architectures where JavaScript engines must balance performance with memory safety. Memory corruption vulnerabilities of this nature are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks and are often used as initial access vectors in advanced persistent threat campaigns. The patch released with Chrome 73.0.3683.103 addressed the underlying bounds checking issue in the JavaScript engine's memory management routines, specifically within the garbage collection and object allocation processes that handle dynamic memory operations. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected Chrome installations, as the vulnerability represents a high-severity risk that can be exploited without user interaction. Security teams should also implement network monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on JavaScript-based memory corruption indicators. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for layered defense strategies in protecting against browser-based attacks, as these types of exploits often bypass traditional security controls due to their legitimate use within web applications.