CVE-2023-6509 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 12/06/2023
Use after free in Side Panel Search in Google Chrome prior to 120.0.6099.62 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific UI interaction to potentially exploit heap corruption via specific UI interaction. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2023
This vulnerability resides in the side panel search functionality of google chrome browsers prior to version 120.0.6099.62 and represents a classic use-after-free condition that can lead to heap corruption. The flaw occurs when the browser processes specific user interface interactions within the side panel search component, where memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed by the application. Such use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code remotely, making them a high severity concern according to chromium security classification.
The technical implementation involves the browser's handling of memory management within the side panel search feature where objects are deallocated from memory but references to these objects persist in the application's execution flow. When a user interacts with specific UI elements within the side panel search interface, the application attempts to access memory that has already been freed, creating a condition where the heap corruption can occur. This memory corruption can then be leveraged by an attacker to manipulate the application's behavior through carefully crafted UI interactions that trigger the vulnerable code path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser instability as it enables remote code execution capabilities for attackers who can successfully convince users to perform specific UI interactions. The attack vector requires social engineering to get users to engage in particular interface actions, but once triggered, the vulnerability can allow for complete system compromise. The high severity classification indicates that exploitation is likely successful and the potential for system compromise is significant, making this a critical vulnerability for all affected chrome users.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate browser updates to version 120.0.6099.62 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement strict update policies to ensure all chrome installations are current with security patches. Additional protective measures include browser hardening configurations, sandboxing implementations, and user education about the risks of interacting with untrusted UI elements. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a clear example of how UI interaction can be weaponized in modern browser exploits.