CVE-2023-4761 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2023
Out of bounds memory access in FedCM in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.179 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to perform an out of bounds memory read via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4761 represents a critical out of bounds memory access flaw within the Federated Credential Management (FedCM) API implementation in Google Chrome. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 116.0.5845.179 and specifically affects the renderer process component of the browser architecture. The FedCM API enables websites to manage user authentication through federated identity providers, allowing seamless single sign-on experiences across multiple services. The flaw manifests when a malicious actor successfully compromises the renderer process and subsequently crafts a specially designed HTML page to exploit this memory access violation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues, specifically categorized as CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The flaw occurs when the FedCM implementation fails to properly validate memory access boundaries during processing of credential management operations. When the renderer process encounters a crafted HTML page containing malicious memory access patterns, it executes code that reads memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially including user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential data that resides in adjacent memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to user security as it requires only a compromised renderer process to execute successfully. The Chromium security severity classification of High indicates the potential for serious consequences, as attackers can use this flaw to perform remote code execution or information disclosure attacks. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be delivered through standard web content, making it difficult for users to detect or prevent. Once an attacker has compromised the renderer process through other means, they can leverage this memory access vulnerability to escalate privileges or extract sensitive data from the browser's memory space. The exploitation chain typically involves initial compromise through phishing, drive-by downloads, or other attack vectors that lead to renderer process control, followed by the delivery of the malicious HTML payload that triggers the out of bounds memory read.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4761 primarily focus on immediate version updates to Chrome 116.0.5845.179 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory access validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious HTML content, implementing strict content security policies that limit the execution of potentially malicious scripts, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or network traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of process isolation within browser architectures, as the renderer process compromise represents a critical attack surface that should be minimized through sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect the presence of vulnerable Chrome versions in their environments and provide alerts for immediate remediation actions. This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing need for robust memory safety practices in browser implementations and underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches to protect against sophisticated remote exploitation techniques.