CVE-2023-6703 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Use after free in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 120.0.6099.109 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 • 02/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6703 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Blink rendering engine of Google Chrome, affecting versions prior to 120.0.6099.109. This flaw resides in the core component responsible for processing and rendering web content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through maliciously crafted HTML pages delivered over the internet. The vulnerability classification as high severity by Chromium security team underscores its potential for significant impact, particularly given the widespread use of Chrome as a primary web browser across enterprise and consumer environments.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Blink's handling of web page elements. When processing specific HTML constructs, the rendering engine fails to properly manage object lifecycles, leading to situations where memory locations are freed but subsequently accessed by the application. This memory corruption scenario creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow through carefully constructed malicious content. The vulnerability specifically affects the heap memory management system where objects are allocated and deallocated during page rendering, making it particularly challenging to detect and exploit reliably.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution capabilities for attackers who can craft HTML pages designed to trigger the memory corruption condition. The attack vector requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user devices to enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed, making it a prime target for nation-state actors and sophisticated threat groups.
The security implications of CVE-2023-6703 align with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free vulnerabilities in software systems. This classification indicates that the flaw involves accessing memory after it has been freed, a common pattern in heap-based buffer overflows that has been exploited in numerous high-profile attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in memory safety within complex browser engines, where the interaction between multiple components can create unexpected execution paths. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to mitigate this risk, as the window for exploitation remains open for systems running vulnerable software. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through browser-based attack vectors. Additionally, the vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation aligns with T1068, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to elevated system access. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive browser updates, network-based protections such as content filtering, and user education regarding suspicious website visits. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual browser behavior or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the use-after-free pattern often leaves detectable traces in system logs and memory dumps.