CVE-2023-0705: Remote Heap Corruption Exploit via Integer Overflow in Google Chrome Core

Google Chrome, one of the most popular web browsers used by millions of users worldwide, has had its fair share of security vulnerabilities. In this article, we'll examine CVE-2023-0705, which pertains to an integer overflow vulnerability in the core of Google Chrome, prior to version 110..5481.77. This vulnerability allowed a remote attacker, after winning a race condition, to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. The Chromium project has classified the security severity of this issue as 'Low.'

Details

The vulnerability resulted from incorrect handling of integer overflow in Google Chrome's core. An integer overflow occurs when an arithmetic operation exceeds the maximum value an integer can represent, wrapping around to the minimum value. These overflows can lead to unexpected behavior and, in some cases, can be exploited by attackers.

To understand the vulnerability, consider the following simplified example

int process_data(int input) {
  int result = input * 4;

  if (result < input) {
    // Integer overflow occurred
    return -1;
  }
  return result;
}

In this example, if input is sufficiently large, the result of the input * 4 operation will overflow, and the value will be smaller than the original input. Thus, the function will return -1. In the real issue found in Chrome, the overflow was not properly handled, and this could lead to heap corruption.

Exploitation Details

Heap corruption occurs when memory is damaged or modified in unintended ways, usually due to a programming error (in this case, the integer overflow). An attacker who can exploit heap corruption can potentially gain control over a victim’s computer, execute malicious code, and access sensitive information.

In the case of CVE-2023-0705, a remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious HTML page that triggers the integer overflow. For the exploit to be successful, the attacker would first have to win a race condition to take advantage of the heap corruption. Race conditions occur when the behavior of software depends on the relative timing of events, like the order in which processes are scheduled to run.

To fully understand the impact and remediation steps for CVE-2023-0705, please refer to the original references:

1. Google Chrome Releases entry: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/01/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_12.html
2. Chromium Bug Tracker entry: https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=1072301

Mitigation & Conclusion

Users are encouraged to update their Google Chrome browser to the latest version (110..5481.77 or later) to address this vulnerability. Although the Chromium project has rated this vulnerability as 'Low' severity, it is essential to stay up-to-date with software updates to ensure the security and privacy of your information.

In summary, CVE-2023-0705 is a low-severity security vulnerability in Google Chrome's core, caused by an integer overflow that could potentially allow an attacker to exploit heap corruption remotely via a crafted HTML page. Updating Google Chrome to the latest version mitigates this vulnerability, and users should remain vigilant for future updates to protect their systems against potential security threats.

Timeline

Published on: 02/07/2023 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 02/16/2023 14:59:00 UTC