CVE-2019-5825 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds write in JavaScript in Google Chrome prior to 73.0.3683.86 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5825 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the JavaScript engine of Google Chrome browsers. This issue affects versions prior to 73.0.3683.86 and stems from improper memory management during JavaScript execution. The flaw manifests when processing crafted HTML pages that contain maliciously constructed JavaScript code, potentially leading to heap corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the intersection of browser rendering and JavaScript interpretation, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds writes in software systems. The flaw occurs within Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine where memory allocation and bounds checking fail to properly validate array access operations. When a malicious HTML page is rendered, the JavaScript engine processes elements that trigger an out-of-bounds memory write operation, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations. This heap corruption can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or more critically, the ability for attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. The vulnerability demonstrates how JavaScript engine flaws can translate into serious security risks due to the privileged execution context of browser environments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution attacks with significant impact across various threat scenarios. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when visited by unsuspecting users, trigger the heap corruption exploit. The attack vector operates entirely through web browsers without requiring user interaction beyond visiting the compromised page, making it particularly dangerous for phishing campaigns and drive-by download attacks. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it operates within the trusted browser environment, where JavaScript execution has broad access to system resources and user data. This flaw can be leveraged for persistent threats including credential theft, data exfiltration, and establishment of backdoors on compromised systems.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-5825 centers on immediate browser updates to versions 73.0.3683.86 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Security teams should also deploy web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing strict content security policies, and utilizing sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense layers. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches to prevent exploitation of browser-based vulnerabilities.