CVE-2023-3731 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2023
Use after free in Diagnostics in Google Chrome on ChromeOS prior to 115.0.5790.98 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted Chrome Extension. (Chromium security severity: High)
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in ChromeOS diagnostics functionality that could be exploited through malicious Chrome extensions. The flaw exists within the memory management subsystem where freed memory blocks are still being accessed, creating opportunities for heap corruption attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects ChromeOS versions prior to 115.0.5790.98, making it particularly concerning for organizations running older ChromeOS deployments. The security impact is classified as high by Chromium security team, indicating significant potential for remote code execution or system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the diagnostics component of ChromeOS. When a malicious extension is installed and executed, it can trigger a sequence where memory allocated for diagnostic operations is freed but subsequently accessed by the extension code. This use-after-free condition allows attackers to manipulate heap memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the ChromeOS user. The attack vector requires user interaction through extension installation, making social engineering a critical component of exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free errors in memory management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full system compromise. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain persistent access to ChromeOS devices, particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Chromebooks serve as primary endpoints. The exploitation process involves crafting a malicious extension that can trigger the memory corruption, followed by code execution within the ChromeOS environment. This creates a pathway for data exfiltration, lateral movement, and establishment of backdoors. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of ChromeOS, which relies on sandboxed extension execution to maintain system integrity.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment to ChromeOS versions 115.0.5790.98 and later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement strict extension approval processes and conduct regular security audits of installed extensions. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous extension behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the risks of installing untrusted extensions and the importance of maintaining up-to-date system software. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1176 which covers the installation of malicious extensions and T1059 which covers the execution of malicious code through legitimate system processes. Regular security assessments should include verification of extension permissions and monitoring for unauthorized memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.