CVE-2021-30566 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/04/2021
Stack buffer overflow in Printing in Google Chrome prior to 92.0.4515.107 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially exploit stack corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-30566 represents a critical stack buffer overflow flaw within Google Chrome's printing functionality that existed in versions prior to 92.0.4515.107. This issue specifically affects the renderer process component of the browser, which is responsible for displaying web content and executing JavaScript code. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the processing of print-related operations, creating an exploitable condition where malicious input can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only a compromised renderer process to be exploited, meaning an attacker who has already gained execution privileges within the browser environment can leverage this vulnerability to further compromise the system.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when Chrome processes print-related HTML elements that contain crafted malicious data structures. During the printing operation, the application fails to properly validate the size of input data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers, allowing an attacker to overflow the allocated memory space. This condition creates an opportunity for arbitrary code execution through stack corruption, potentially enabling attackers to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control flow data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption. The exploitability of this flaw is enhanced by the fact that it operates within the renderer process, which already has extensive access to the browser's memory space and can manipulate various execution contexts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations relying on Chrome browsers for their daily operations. The attack vector requires an initial compromise of the renderer process, which can occur through various social engineering techniques, drive-by downloads, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities in the browser ecosystem. Once the attacker has established a foothold in the renderer process, they can leverage this stack buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised browser process. This capability can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by Chrome's widespread adoption across enterprise environments, making it a prime target for sophisticated threat actors. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability exploitation under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can use the compromised environment to execute malicious payloads and maintain persistence.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 92.0.4515.107 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. In addition to updating the browser, security teams should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious print-related activities and establish process isolation controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in browser implementations. Security measures should include regular vulnerability assessments of browser components, monitoring for unusual print job processing patterns, and maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence on similar vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the need for comprehensive security architectures that protect against both external attacks and internal compromise scenarios, emphasizing that vulnerabilities in browser components can serve as entry points for broader system infiltration. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures such as sandboxing, content security policies, and regular security audits to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of similar future vulnerabilities.