CVE-2023-0474 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2023
Use after free in GuestView in Google Chrome prior to 109.0.5414.119 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a Chrome web app. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0474 represents a use-after-free condition within the GuestView component of Google Chrome, affecting versions prior to 109.0.5414.119. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of web applications and extensions, specifically within the GuestView framework that manages the execution of web content in isolated contexts. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management where freed memory regions are still being accessed by subsequent operations, creating potential for heap corruption and arbitrary code execution. The GuestView component is designed to provide secure isolation for web content, particularly when dealing with extension installations and web application execution, making this a critical security concern for browser environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper deallocation of memory resources within the GuestView subsystem when processing malicious extensions or web applications. When Chrome processes a crafted extension that triggers a specific sequence of operations, the memory allocated to GuestView objects gets freed prematurely while other processes may still reference these locations. This use-after-free condition creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory to inject malicious code or corrupt the heap structure, potentially leading to privilege escalation or full system compromise. The Chromium security severity classification of Medium indicates the potential impact is significant but not catastrophic, though the exploitation requires user interaction through extension installation.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0474 extends beyond simple memory corruption as it provides a potential attack vector for sophisticated exploitation campaigns. An attacker must first convince a user to install a malicious extension, which creates a social engineering component to the vulnerability. However, once installed, the extension can trigger the use-after-free condition through specific web application interactions or extension API calls that cause the GuestView component to access freed memory. This vulnerability affects the browser's security model by potentially undermining the isolation guarantees provided by the GuestView framework, allowing malicious code to escape its intended sandboxed environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Chrome extensions operate with elevated privileges and can access user data, potentially leading to data theft, persistent backdoors, or further system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0474 focus primarily on immediate browser updates to versions 109.0.5414.119 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory management issues in the GuestView component. Organizations should implement comprehensive extension management policies, including restricting extension installation to trusted sources and conducting regular audits of installed extensions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through browser-based attacks. Additional defensive measures include enabling Chrome's built-in security features such as sandboxing, site isolation, and strict content security policies to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should also monitor for any related vulnerabilities in the GuestView framework and maintain awareness of potential indirect exploitation paths that could arise from similar memory corruption issues.