CVE-2023-4352 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2023
Type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.96 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical type confusion flaw within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Google Chrome and Chromium-based browsers. The issue manifests as a heap corruption vulnerability that can be triggered through maliciously crafted HTML pages, potentially enabling remote code execution. The vulnerability exists in the way V8 handles object type information during JavaScript execution, specifically when the engine fails to properly validate type consistency between different object references. This type confusion occurs at the interpreter level where the engine incorrectly assumes objects maintain consistent types, leading to memory corruption when type information becomes inconsistent during runtime operations. The vulnerability affects Chrome versions prior to 116.0.5845.96 and represents a significant security risk due to its potential for remote exploitation through web-based attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of JavaScript object properties and their underlying memory representations within V8's memory management system. When the engine processes certain JavaScript operations on objects with dynamic type characteristics, it fails to properly validate that type transitions occur safely. This allows attackers to craft HTML pages that manipulate object references in ways that cause the engine to access memory locations with incorrect type assumptions. The heap corruption results from the engine's failure to maintain proper memory boundaries when objects are reclassified or when type information is incorrectly cached during optimization processes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to users who browse the internet regularly, as it can be exploited through drive-by downloads or malicious websites. The high severity classification indicates that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. The attack surface is extensive given that V8 is used across numerous applications and services, not just browsers, making this a widespread concern for enterprise environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern JavaScript engines and their susceptibility to memory safety issues that can be exploited through carefully crafted web content. Organizations should be particularly concerned about attacks targeting users who frequently visit untrusted websites or who may be exposed to phishing campaigns that deliver malicious HTML content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 116.0.5845.96 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent the type confusion scenario. Browser vendors should implement additional security mitigations such as address space layout randomization, control flow integrity checks, and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browsers updated. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes null pointer dereference issues, though this specific case involves type confusion rather than simple pointer dereference, making it a more complex memory safety issue that requires comprehensive defensive measures across multiple layers of the security stack.