CVE-2020-16004 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/03/2020
Use after free in user interface in Google Chrome prior to 86.0.4240.183 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-16004 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the user interface component of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 86.0.4240.183. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of memory management during the rendering of crafted HTML content, creating a pathway for remote code execution through heap corruption. The issue stems from improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to freed memory locations, a classic pattern that has been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and categorized under CWE-416. The vulnerability affects the browser's user interface rendering engine, specifically when processing maliciously crafted web pages that trigger memory management errors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's JavaScript engine and rendering pipeline where a crafted HTML page can manipulate the memory allocation and deallocation process in such a way that a memory block is freed but still referenced by subsequent operations. When the browser attempts to access this freed memory location, it results in unpredictable behavior including heap corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers. The flaw typically occurs during the processing of dynamic content where DOM elements are manipulated in ways that cause the browser to free memory associated with user interface components while still maintaining references to those locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on victim systems through web-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-16004 extends beyond simple browser compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access to victim machines. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code, establish backdoors, or perform data exfiltration from compromised systems. The remote nature of the attack means that victims need only visit a malicious website to be potentially compromised, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios. The heap corruption resulting from this use-after-free condition can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to privilege escalation and further system compromise. Organizations running affected Chrome versions face significant risk of targeted attacks, especially in environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites or receive email attachments containing malicious links.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-16004 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and browser version management. Google released Chrome version 86.0.4240.183 to address this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize updating all affected systems to this or later versions. Additionally, implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide defense-in-depth against exploitation attempts. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing technologies can reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and following security best practices for browser configuration and user education to prevent successful exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.