CVE-2019-5827 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in SQLite via WebSQL in Google Chrome prior to 74.0.3729.131 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2019-5827 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within SQLite's WebSQL implementation in Google Chrome browsers. This issue affects versions prior to 74.0.3729.131 and stems from improper handling of integer values during database operations. The vulnerability manifests when a malicious HTML page attempts to manipulate SQLite database operations through WebSQL interfaces, creating conditions where integer arithmetic can exceed maximum representable values. Such overflow conditions typically occur during memory allocation calculations or buffer size computations within the database engine's internal processing mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the WebSQL API which provides web applications with client-side database functionality. When Chrome processes database operations through WebSQL, it internally relies on SQLite's database engine for storage and retrieval functions. The integer overflow occurs specifically during the calculation of memory requirements for database operations, where crafted input values cause arithmetic overflow that results in insufficient memory allocation. This insufficient allocation creates heap corruption conditions that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. The flaw resides in the lack of proper bounds checking and overflow detection during integer operations that determine memory allocation sizes for database buffers.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to web application security as it allows remote code execution through seemingly benign HTML pages. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that when loaded in affected Chrome versions trigger the integer overflow condition, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The heap corruption resulting from this overflow can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory structures, manipulate program execution flow, or inject malicious code into the browser process. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users browse untrusted websites or receive phishing emails with embedded malicious content. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to potentially affect enterprise environments where Chrome is the primary browser and WebSQL is utilized for web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5827 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 74.0.3729.131 and later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing content security policies that restrict WebSQL usage in web applications and monitor for suspicious database operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through web applications. Network administrators should also deploy intrusion detection systems that can identify exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern and consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious WebSQL operations. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any web applications that rely on deprecated WebSQL interfaces and migrate to modern database storage solutions that do not exhibit similar vulnerabilities.