CVE-2019-13737 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient policy enforcement in autocomplete in Google Chrome prior to 79.0.3945.79 allowed a remote attacker to obtain potentially sensitive information from process memory via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13737 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's autocomplete functionality that existed prior to version 79.0.3945.79. This issue stems from insufficient policy enforcement mechanisms within the browser's autocomplete system, creating a pathway for remote attackers to extract sensitive information from process memory. The flaw specifically targets the way Chrome handles autocomplete data and its associated memory management processes, potentially exposing confidential information that should remain protected within the browser's memory space.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-200, which deals with exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The flaw manifests when Chrome processes crafted HTML pages that manipulate the autocomplete behavior in ways that bypass normal security boundaries. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that exploit the browser's autocomplete subsystem to read memory contents that should be restricted to legitimate browser processes. This memory disclosure occurs through improper validation of user-supplied data within the autocomplete implementation, allowing for arbitrary memory access patterns that reveal potentially sensitive information.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to user privacy and system security. The ability to extract process memory information means that attackers could potentially access cookies, session tokens, personal data, or other confidential information stored in memory during browser operations. The remote exploitation aspect of this flaw means that users do not need to interact with malicious content directly, as simply visiting a compromised website could trigger the memory disclosure. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1003.001 for credential dumping, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized access to stored credentials and sensitive data.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potentially compromise broader security postures. When attackers can extract memory contents, they gain access to information that may include authentication tokens, personal identifiers, or other sensitive data that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Chrome's autocomplete system, where proper isolation between different browser processes and memory regions should be maintained. This breakdown in security boundaries creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges or conduct more sophisticated reconnaissance activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13737 primarily focus on updating to Chrome version 79.0.3945.79 or later, which includes the necessary policy enforcement improvements. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additionally, security teams should monitor for similar vulnerabilities in browser components and consider implementing network-level protections such as content security policies and web application firewalls. The fix typically involves strengthening input validation mechanisms within the autocomplete subsystem and ensuring proper memory access controls are enforced during autocomplete operations. Regular security assessments of browser configurations and user access controls should also be conducted to minimize the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the browser ecosystem.