CVE-2019-5826 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use after free in IndexedDB in Google Chrome prior to 73.0.3683.86 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2019-5826 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome's IndexedDB implementation that existed prior to version 73.0.3683.86. This vulnerability specifically affects the browser's client-side database storage mechanism which is part of the Web APIs available to web applications. The flaw occurs within the IndexedDB subsystem that handles indexed database operations for web applications, making it a significant concern for web security and browser sandboxing. The vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free error under CWE-416, which occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and exploitation opportunities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first compromise the renderer process through a separate attack vector, as the flaw itself cannot be directly exploited from the network. Once inside the renderer process, the attacker can craft a malicious HTML page that triggers the use-after-free condition within the IndexedDB component. This particular vulnerability manifests when the browser handles certain database operations involving object stores and transactions, where memory allocated for database objects is freed but subsequent operations attempt to access that freed memory. The heap corruption that results from this flaw can potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised renderer process, which operates within Chrome's sandboxed environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5826 extends beyond simple code execution as it represents a privilege escalation vector within the browser's security model. While the initial compromise requires gaining access to the renderer process, the vulnerability can be leveraged to achieve further exploitation within the browser sandbox. The attacker's goal would be to escalate privileges from the renderer process to the more privileged browser process, potentially leading to complete browser compromise. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the trusted browser environment where web content is executed, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as it provides a pathway for attackers to gain elevated privileges within the browser environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5826 primarily focus on updating to Chrome version 73.0.3683.86 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the use-after-free condition in IndexedDB. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Chrome installations to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, browser security configurations should be reviewed to ensure proper sandboxing is maintained, as the vulnerability requires compromising the renderer process before exploitation can occur. Network security teams should monitor for suspicious web traffic and potentially malicious HTML content that might attempt to trigger this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include implementing browser hardening measures and ensuring that automatic updates are enabled to prevent future vulnerabilities from being exploited. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual IndexedDB operations that might indicate exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential browser-based privilege escalation scenarios. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current browser versions and the critical nature of sandboxing mechanisms in preventing privilege escalation attacks within trusted application environments.