CVE-2023-5476 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Use after free in Blink History in Google Chrome prior to 118.0.5993.70 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-5476 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Blink rendering engine's history management component of Google Chrome. This flaw exists in versions prior to 118.0.5993.70 and demonstrates how memory safety issues in web browsers can create significant attack vectors for remote exploitation. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Blink history subsystem which handles browser history operations and navigation tracking, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to leverage memory corruption exploits.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the Blink engine processes crafted HTML content that triggers improper memory management during history operations. When a malicious webpage contains carefully constructed HTML elements or JavaScript code, it can cause the browser to free memory associated with history objects while still maintaining references to those locations. This creates a scenario where subsequent memory access operations can overwrite or corrupt data in adjacent memory regions, leading to heap corruption. The vulnerability manifests through the interaction between JavaScript execution and the underlying C++ memory management within the Blink engine's history tracking mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-5476 extends beyond simple memory corruption as it provides potential for remote code execution and privilege escalation attacks. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in affected Chrome versions, trigger the use-after-free condition and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. This represents a significant threat to user security since web browsers are frequently targeted due to their broad attack surface and the trust users place in web content. The medium severity classification by Chromium security team reflects the complexity of exploitation requirements while acknowledging the potential for serious consequences.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-5476 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 118.0.5993.70 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory management flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include enabling browser security features such as sandboxing and content security policies, while network administrators can deploy web filtering solutions to block suspicious content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free errors in memory management, and represents a common attack pattern categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through web-based attacks. Regular security assessments and monitoring of browser security advisories remain essential for maintaining protection against similar vulnerabilities in the browser ecosystem.