Recently, a critical vulnerability designated by the code CVE-2023-0941 was discovered in Google Chrome. It specifically targets the browser prompts and has the potential to allow a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption by using a specially crafted HTML page. This vulnerability affects versions of Chrome prior to 110..5481.177. In this post, we will delve into the details of CVE-2023-0941, understand its severity level, and discuss ways to mitigate this security risk.

The Vulnerability: Use After Free in Google Chrome Prompts

A use after free vulnerability occurs when a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior or crashes. In the case of CVE-2023-0941, the vulnerability affects the prompts in Google Chrome, which are a critical part of the browser's user interface.

Exploit Details

An attacker could exploit CVE-2023-0941 by creating a specially crafted HTML page that triggers the use after free vulnerability when accessed using a vulnerable version of Google Chrome. This could lead to heap corruption that may expose sensitive information or potentially enable the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Here is an example of a simple, but potentially dangerous code snippet that could trigger the vulnerability in Google Chrome:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>CVE-2023-0941 Demo</title>
  <script>
    function triggerVulnerability() {
      const promptInfo = {message: 'Type something:', default: ''};
      const dialog = new Promise(resolve => {
        chrome.runtime.sendMessage(promptInfo, response => {
          resolve(response);
        });
      });
      dialog.then(() => {
        // Exploit the use after free vulnerability here
      });
    }
  </script>
</head>
<body>
  <button onclick="triggerVulnerability()">Trigger Vulnerability</button>
</body>
</html>

Original References and Sources

The Google Chrome security team initially discovered and documented the vulnerability. The Chromium source code has an entry for the issue, which you can find here.

The original disclosure of CVE-2023-0941, along with additional technical resources and advisories, can be found at the following links:

- National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry
- Google Chrome Releases Blog
- Chromium Security Page

Mitigation Strategies

Google has released a patch that addresses the CVE-2023-0941 vulnerability for Chrome versions 110..5481.177 and later. To protect yourself and your organization from this vulnerability, you should take the following steps:

1. Update Google Chrome to the latest version (110..5481.177 or later) as soon as possible. You can check your currently installed version by navigating to "chrome://version/" in your browser's address bar.

2. Regularly check for and apply security updates and patches. Keep your operating system, antivirus software, and other essential tools up to date.

3. Practice safe browsing habits. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites, and never download or install software from untrusted sources.

4. Implement network and system security best practices, such as regularly monitoring systems for suspicious activity, and using strong and unique passwords.

Conclusion

The CVE-2023-0941 vulnerability in Google Chrome is a critical security risk that could potentially allow a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or execute malicious code. By following the mitigation strategies outlined above and keeping your software up to date, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to this and other cybersecurity threats.

Timeline

Published on: 02/22/2023 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 02/28/2023 02:17:00 UTC