CVE-2020-6416 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient data validation in streams in Google Chrome prior to 80.0.3987.87 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6416 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's handling of data streams that existed prior to version 80.0.3987.87. This issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within Chrome's stream processing components, creating a pathway for remote attackers to potentially execute heap corruption attacks through maliciously crafted HTML content. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome's stream handling architecture which processes various data streams including those used in web applications, multimedia content, and asynchronous data transfers. Security researchers identified that when Chrome processes certain stream operations, it fails to properly validate input data, allowing attackers to manipulate stream boundaries and memory allocation patterns in ways that could lead to memory corruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting HTML pages that contain malformed stream data which, when processed by Chrome's rendering engine, triggers improper memory handling. Attackers can leverage this flaw by creating web pages that utilize JavaScript APIs for stream manipulation, particularly those involving ReadableStream and WritableStream objects. The insufficient validation allows malicious input to bypass Chrome's memory safety mechanisms, potentially leading to heap corruption where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which encompasses issues related to insufficient validation of length parameters, and more specifically aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how improper input validation in streaming APIs can create memory corruption opportunities.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6416 extends beyond simple remote code execution possibilities, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks within the context of the victim's browser session. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system with the privileges of the Chrome process, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Chrome processes millions of web pages daily, and the vulnerability could be triggered through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This makes the vulnerability highly attractive to threat actors who can leverage it in phishing campaigns, drive-by download attacks, or through compromised websites that serve malicious content to unsuspecting users. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers JavaScript and VBScript execution, and T1203, which involves exploitation for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-6416 primarily focus on updating Chrome to version 80.0.3987.87 or later, which includes patches that address the stream validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, as this vulnerability affects the browser's core streaming functionality. Additionally, network administrators can deploy web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains that may host exploit code. Browser security enhancements such as sandboxing, which isolates Chrome processes from the underlying operating system, can provide additional protection layers. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing robust input validation mechanisms in streaming APIs and demonstrates the necessity of continuous security auditing of browser components. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about suspicious web content and the risks associated with visiting untrusted websites. Regular security assessments of web applications that utilize stream APIs can help identify potential vulnerabilities in custom implementations that might compound the risks associated with browser-level flaws.