CVE-2023-0698 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/07/2023
Out of bounds read in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 110.0.5481.77 allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory read via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0698 represents a critical out of bounds memory read flaw within the WebRTC implementation of Google Chrome browsers. This issue affects versions prior to 110.0.5481.77 and constitutes a high severity concern according to Chromium's security classification system. The vulnerability arises from insufficient bounds checking during WebRTC media processing operations, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries through maliciously crafted web content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory validation within the WebRTC component responsible for handling real-time communication protocols. When processing specially crafted HTML pages containing malicious WebRTC elements, the browser fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. This allows an attacker to read data from memory regions that should remain inaccessible, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations. The flaw specifically manifests during the processing of media streams and signaling messages within the WebRTC framework, where buffer overflow conditions can occur when handling malformed input data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of affected Chrome versions as it enables remote code execution through memory disclosure attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to potentially extract sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data stored in memory. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread use of WebRTC for video conferencing, instant messaging, and other communication services. The out of bounds read could be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve more severe outcomes including full system compromise, making this a critical concern for enterprise environments and users handling sensitive information.
Security mitigations for CVE-2023-0698 primarily involve updating to Chrome version 110.0.5481.77 or later, which includes patched WebRTC implementation with proper bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of this security update across all affected systems. Additionally, network administrators can implement web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block potentially malicious WebRTC content, though this represents a temporary workaround rather than a permanent fix. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking in input validation processes, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through web-based attacks. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability assessment procedures should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory access flaw.