CVE-2019-5828 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Object lifecycle issue in ServiceWorker in Google Chrome prior to 75.0.3770.80 allowed a remote attacker to potentially perform out of bounds memory access via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5828 represents a critical object lifecycle management flaw within Google Chrome's ServiceWorker implementation that existed prior to version 75.0.3770.80. This issue falls under the broader category of memory safety vulnerabilities and specifically manifests as an out of bounds memory access condition that can be exploited remotely through maliciously crafted web content. ServiceWorkers serve as background processes that enable features like push notifications, background sync, and offline capabilities in web applications, making them integral components of modern web browsing experiences.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of object references within the ServiceWorker lifecycle management system. When a web page contains maliciously constructed HTML content that triggers specific ServiceWorker operations, the underlying memory management routines fail to properly validate array bounds or object reference validity. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate memory pointers and access regions beyond the intended object boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the browser level where it can directly interact with system memory without proper sandboxing boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for users of affected Chrome versions as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities. An attacker只需要 craft a malicious HTML page that when loaded in Chrome triggers the vulnerable ServiceWorker code path, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is broad since ServiceWorkers are commonly used across legitimate web applications, making the exploitation vector easily accessible through normal web browsing. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can lead to remote code execution in browser environments.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable sophisticated attack patterns including information leakage, persistent backdoor installation, and complete browser compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass modern security mitigations like address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the target system. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome installations, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a reliable path to system compromise through standard web browsing activities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate version updates to Chrome 75.0.3770.80 or later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes for ServiceWorker object lifecycle handling. Additionally, organizations can implement web application firewalls and content security policies to limit ServiceWorker registration from untrusted sources. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary ServiceWorker functionality for sensitive environments and implementing strict origin policies can provide additional layers of defense. Regular security assessments should verify that no legacy web applications are inadvertently triggering the vulnerable code paths, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual ServiceWorker activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.