CVE-2023-3422 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2023
Use after free in Guest View in Google Chrome prior to 114.0.5735.198 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome's Guest View component that existed in versions prior to 114.0.5735.198. The issue stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are still accessed after being deallocated, creating a potential pathway for heap corruption. Guest View is a Chromium component that enables embedding web content within browser extensions and applications, making it a prime target for exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of memory resources when processing malicious HTML content through browser extensions, which are often trusted by users due to their legitimate functionality and perceived security.
The technical exploitation occurs when a malicious extension is installed and subsequently loads a crafted HTML page that triggers the use-after-free condition. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code within the browser's sandboxed environment. The vulnerability is classified as high severity by Chromium security standards because it can be leveraged to achieve remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond installing the malicious extension. The attack vector specifically targets the extension installation process and subsequent page rendering, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently install third-party extensions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can be used to bypass security boundaries that separate different browser processes and extension contexts. An attacker could potentially leverage this flaw to access sensitive user data, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user, or escalate privileges to gain access to system resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where browser extensions are commonly used for various business functions, as it could be exploited to compromise entire organizational networks. The heap corruption aspect of this vulnerability provides attackers with multiple exploitation techniques, including information disclosure and privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through browser updates to version 114.0.5735.198 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory management issues. Organizations should also implement strict extension review processes and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potentially malicious extensions. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework, where initial compromise often involves social engineering to convince users to install malicious extensions. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to extension installations and implement network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications, and represents a typical example of how browser sandbox bypasses can be achieved through memory corruption vulnerabilities.