CVE-2023-0699 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/07/2023
Use after free in GPU in Google Chrome prior to 110.0.5481.77 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page and browser shutdown. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the graphics processing unit subsystem of google chrome browsers. The flaw occurs when the gpu process handles memory management during browser shutdown operations, creating a scenario where freed memory locations can be accessed after they have been deallocated from the heap. This particular vulnerability affects chrome versions prior to 110.0.5481.77 and presents a medium severity risk according to chromium security assessments. The issue arises from improper memory deallocation handling within the gpu rendering pipeline where objects are freed but references to them persist in memory structures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious html page that triggers specific memory allocation and deallocation sequences within the gpu process. During normal browser shutdown operations, the gpu subsystem may attempt to access memory that has already been freed, leading to heap corruption. This heap corruption can potentially result in arbitrary code execution, as the attacker-controlled memory access can be manipulated to overwrite critical memory locations or redirect execution flow. The vulnerability specifically targets the gpu process which handles graphics rendering operations, making it particularly dangerous as it can leverage graphics processing capabilities to execute malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data confidentiality breaches. When exploited successfully, the use-after-free condition can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with gpu process privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise. The medium severity classification reflects the complexity required to exploit this vulnerability, as it requires both a crafted html page and specific browser shutdown conditions to manifest. However, the potential for privilege escalation and system control makes this a significant concern for organizations relying on chrome browsers for web browsing operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate chrome browser updates to version 110.0.5481.77 or later, which contains patches addressing the heap corruption issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying automated patch management systems to ensure all chrome installations remain current. Additionally, network security measures such as content filtering and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by blocking access to known malicious html pages. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes the use of freed memory condition, and represents a specific implementation weakness in chrome's gpu memory management protocols. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing runtime protections or sandboxing mechanisms to limit potential impact if exploitation occurs.