CVE-2019-5760 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient checks of pointer validity in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 72.0.3626.81 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5760 represents a critical heap corruption issue within the WebRTC implementation of Google Chrome browsers prior to version 72.0.3626.81. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of pointer validation during WebRTC operations, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The vulnerability specifically affects the Chromium-based browser's WebRTC component which is responsible for real-time communication capabilities including voice and video calling, screen sharing, and data transmission directly between browsers without requiring intermediate servers. The insufficient pointer validity checks occur during the processing of WebRTC media streams and related data structures, where the browser fails to properly validate memory pointers before dereferencing them. This oversight allows attackers to craft malicious HTML pages that can trigger memory corruption when the browser processes WebRTC-related content, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the browser's sandboxed environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions that can result in heap corruption. The flaw operates through a memory safety issue where the WebRTC implementation does not adequately validate pointer addresses before using them in memory operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layouts and potentially execute malicious code. When a user visits a crafted webpage containing malicious WebRTC code, the browser's WebRTC engine processes the data without proper pointer validation, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflow conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical data structures or executable code within the browser's memory space.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of affected Chrome versions as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread use of Chrome browsers and the prevalence of WebRTC functionality in modern web applications, including video conferencing platforms, instant messaging services, and collaborative tools. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise, as successful heap corruption can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process, potentially enabling further attacks such as credential theft, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution through browser-based attacks, and T1203, which involves legitimate programs being used for code execution. Organizations and individuals using Chrome versions prior to 72.0.3626.81 face substantial risk exposure, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites that embed malicious WebRTC content.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrade to Chrome version 72.0.3626.81 or later, which includes patches addressing the pointer validation issues in the WebRTC implementation. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block known malicious WebRTC-based attack patterns. Browser security configurations should be hardened through the implementation of strict Content Security Policies and the disabling of unnecessary WebRTC functionality where possible. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual WebRTC activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should consider deploying automated patch management solutions to ensure rapid deployment of security updates across all affected systems. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing of web applications that utilize WebRTC functionality to identify potential exploitation vectors. Organizations should also maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to monitor for new attack techniques targeting similar vulnerabilities in browser implementations and related web technologies.