CVE-2019-13706 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds memory access in PDFium in Google Chrome prior to 78.0.3904.70 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted PDF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13706 represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw within PDFium, the PDF rendering library that powers Google Chrome's document handling capabilities. This issue emerged in Chrome versions prior to 78.0.3904.70 and demonstrates how seemingly benign document processing can become a vector for sophisticated remote code execution attacks. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing and rendering of malformed PDF files, where improper memory boundary checks allow attackers to manipulate heap memory structures through carefully crafted malicious documents.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within PDFium's memory management routines when processing certain PDF objects and streams. The flaw occurs during the handling of specific PDF elements that trigger memory allocation patterns which exceed allocated buffer boundaries, leading to heap corruption. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The memory corruption typically results from insufficient bounds checking when processing PDF arrays, dictionaries, or stream data structures that exceed expected size parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple document rendering failures, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for remote code execution within the context of the Chrome browser. Attackers can craft malicious PDF files that, when opened by an affected browser version, trigger the memory corruption condition and potentially allow arbitrary code execution. This presents a significant risk to enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious documents through phishing campaigns, web browsing, or document sharing platforms. The vulnerability's exploitability is heightened by the fact that PDF documents are commonly encountered in business and personal contexts, making the attack surface particularly broad.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13706 primarily focus on immediate remediation through Chrome version updates to 78.0.3904.70 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory boundary checking deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additionally, network security controls including PDF content filtering and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by blocking suspicious PDF documents before they reach end-user systems. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services, and T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation, highlighting the multi-stage nature of potential exploitation chains that could leverage this flaw.