CVE-2019-13735 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds write in JavaScript in Google Chrome prior to 79.0.3945.79 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13735 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the JavaScript engine of Google Chrome browsers. This issue affected versions prior to 79.0.3945.79 and constituted a severe security weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution within the browser's sandboxed environment. The vulnerability's classification as an out-of-bounds write indicates that malicious code could manipulate memory locations beyond the intended boundaries of allocated buffers, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within Chrome's JavaScript engine, specifically in how it handles memory allocation and data manipulation operations. When processing crafted HTML content containing malicious JavaScript code, the engine fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits, allowing attackers to write data beyond the allocated memory space. This memory corruption vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security domains, leveraging the browser's JavaScript runtime to bypass traditional security mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-13735 extends far beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it allows attackers to circumvent Chrome's security model that isolates web content from the underlying operating system. This particular flaw enables remote code execution within the sandboxed environment, which violates fundamental security principles that separate user browsing activities from system-level operations. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it highly suitable for drive-by attack scenarios that can compromise user systems without explicit user consent or awareness.
Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions in software applications. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which describes the use of JavaScript for code execution in web browsers, and represents a classic example of how browser-based vulnerabilities can be leveraged for privilege escalation. The vulnerability's exploitation chain typically involves crafting malicious HTML content that triggers the JavaScript engine's memory corruption, followed by execution of malicious code within the compromised sandbox environment. Organizations and users were strongly advised to upgrade to Chrome version 79.0.3945.79 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, as the patch implemented by Google addressed the underlying bounds checking deficiencies in the JavaScript engine's memory management.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of robust memory safety mechanisms in modern web browsers, where the JavaScript engine serves as a primary attack surface for sophisticated cyber threats. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in memory management can result in catastrophic security consequences, emphasizing the need for continuous security auditing and proper input validation in browser-based applications.