CVE-2023-4572 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2023
Use after free in MediaStream in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.140 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 • 09/22/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Google Chrome's MediaStream implementation that could enable remote code execution through malicious web content. The flaw exists within the browser's handling of media streaming functionality and specifically affects versions prior to 116.0.5845.140. The vulnerability is classified as high severity by Chromium security standards and demonstrates the dangerous potential of memory corruption flaws in modern web browsers where attackers can leverage crafted HTML pages to trigger exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the MediaStream component where freed memory blocks are still being accessed or referenced after deallocation. This occurs when the browser's media stream processing logic fails to properly track object lifecycles and maintain references to memory that has already been released back to the heap. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the heap state through carefully crafted HTML content that triggers the MediaStream API in a way that creates dangling pointers or use-after-free conditions. Such conditions are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution as it represents a sophisticated attack vector that could be leveraged in phishing campaigns, drive-by download scenarios, or targeted attacks against specific user groups. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in vulnerable Chrome versions, would trigger the memory corruption condition and potentially deliver malware payloads or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core browser functionality related to media processing and streaming, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of web browsers for accessing internet content and the broad range of applications that rely on media streaming capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Chrome version 116.0.5845.140 or later which contains the necessary patches to address the memory management issues in the MediaStream implementation. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious HTML content that attempts to exploit this class of vulnerability. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running vulnerable Chrome versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to maintain up-to-date browser installations. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browsers updated remains crucial in defending against exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which describes the use of freed memory condition and represents a classic example of heap corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks.