CVE-2019-13752 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds read in SQLite 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 • 05/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13752 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the SQLite database engine implementation that was present in Google Chrome versions prior to 79.0.3945.79. This issue stems from improper bounds checking during database operations, specifically when processing crafted HTML content that triggers SQLite query execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an insufficient bounds check, which directly enables memory access violations that can lead to information disclosure. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious HTML page that when loaded in Chrome, triggers the vulnerable SQLite processing code path. This allows the attacker to read data from adjacent memory locations that may contain sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in the browser process memory.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the interaction between Chrome's JavaScript engine and the underlying SQLite database implementation. When a crafted HTML page containing malicious database queries is loaded, Chrome's rendering engine processes these queries through the SQLite library, which fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries. This flaw specifically manifests when SQLite attempts to read data from memory locations that extend beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing process memory contents. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the browser's memory space, meaning that sensitive information from other processes or browser components could be accessed through this information disclosure mechanism.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform information disclosure attacks without requiring any local privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The potential for sensitive data exposure makes this a high-risk vulnerability that could compromise user privacy and system security. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract confidential information from Chrome's memory, potentially including cookies, session tokens, or other authentication data that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall under T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as the information disclosure could lead to subsequent exploitation attempts. The attack requires minimal user interaction and can be delivered through standard web-based attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13752 focus primarily on updating Chrome to version 79.0.3945.79 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the bounds checking deficiencies in the SQLite implementation. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing features, restricting database access permissions, and implementing content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious web content attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The fix implemented by Google addresses the root cause by introducing proper bounds checking mechanisms in the SQLite processing code, ensuring that all memory accesses are validated against allocated buffer boundaries before any read operations occur. Security teams should also monitor for any related vulnerabilities in the SQLite library and other components that may share similar memory access patterns.