CVE-2019-5871 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Heap buffer overflow in Skia in Google Chrome prior to 77.0.3865.75 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
The heap buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5871 resides within the Skia graphics rendering library that forms a critical component of Google Chrome's rendering engine. This vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 77.0.3865.75 and represents a significant security flaw that could enable remote code execution through maliciously crafted web content. The Skia library serves as the 2D graphics rendering engine for Chrome and many other applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning given the widespread use of Chrome and its underlying graphics components.
The technical flaw manifests as a heap buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing certain HTML elements within the Skia rendering pipeline. This type of vulnerability typically arises when an application writes data beyond the boundaries of a heap-allocated buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions. The overflow can be triggered by carefully constructed HTML content that exploits memory handling inconsistencies in how Skia processes graphics-related elements such as canvas operations, image rendering, or vector graphics. The vulnerability's classification as a heap buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack and heap buffer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it represents a remote code execution vector that could be exploited by attackers without user interaction. A remote attacker could craft a malicious webpage containing specially designed HTML elements that, when rendered by Chrome, trigger the heap overflow condition. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is heightened by Chrome's widespread usage and the fact that users often visit untrusted websites without considering the security implications of the underlying rendering engine.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5871 primarily focus on immediate software updates to Chrome version 77.0.3865.75 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the heap buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing features, restricting JavaScript execution in sensitive contexts, and implementing content security policies can provide additional defense layers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, with the initial compromise occurring through web-based attack vectors. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability, though the most effective defense remains timely software patching and maintaining current browser versions.