Uncovering the Details of CVE-2023-3217: A High Severity Use After Free Vulnerability in WebXR in Google Chrome

Google Chrome, one of the world's most widely used web browsers, has discovered a high severity security vulnerability affecting the WebXR component, allowing a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. This security flaw, known as CVE-2023-3217, has serious implications for Chrome users, especially if their browser isn't up to date or if they often visit untrusted websites.

In this post, we will discuss the details of this vulnerability, provide a code snippet to better understand its implications, and share some links to relevant resources to help you learn more about it. By the end of this blog, you'll have a deep understanding of CVE-2023-3217 and how it impacts Google Chrome's security.

What is WebXR?

WebXR is an emerging web standard that enables the creation of virtual and augmented reality experiences inside web browsers. It allows developers to create immersive experiences that work across various devices and platforms. WebXR is implemented in Google Chrome through a component that provides these APIs.

Details of Vulnerability (CVE-2023-3217)

CVE-2023-3217 refers to a use-after-free vulnerability in the WebXR component of Google Chrome prior to version 114..5735.133. Use-after-free is a type of vulnerability that occurs when memory that has already been freed is used again, potentially leading to code execution or crashes. In this case, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability and potentially corrupt the heap memory through a carefully crafted HTML page.

Here's a simplified code snippet that demonstrates how a use-after-free vulnerability could look like:

class WebXRExample {
public:
  void doSomething() {
    if (isInUse) {
      // Do something with object
    }
  }

  void freeObject() {
    isInUse = false;
    delete this;
  }

private:
  bool isInUse = true;
};

int main() {
  WebXRExample* example = new WebXRExample;
  example->freeObject();
  example->doSomething(); // Use after free
}

In the above code snippet, the WebXRExample object is freed using the freeObject method. However, the object's memory is still accessed with the doSomething method afterward, resulting in a use-after-free vulnerability.

Exploit Details

A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a malicious HTML page that triggers the use-after-free vulnerability in the WebXR component of Google Chrome. If a user visits this malicious page using a vulnerable version of Chrome, the attacker could potentially exploit heap corruption and execute arbitrary code within the context of the browser.

Chromium Security Severity: High

Google Chrome's security team has classified this vulnerability as High severity, which means it's crucial to update Chrome to the latest version (at least 114..5735.133) as soon as possible. Older versions of Chrome are at risk of being exploited, so it's essential to stay up to date with the latest security patches.

Protecting Yourself and Staying Updated

The most effective way to protect yourself from CVE-2023-3217 is to ensure your Google Chrome browser is updated to the latest version (114..5735.133 or later). Additionally, always be cautious when browsing unfamiliar websites or clicking on links from untrusted sources, as they might potentially host malicious content that could exploit this vulnerability.

Original References

1. CVE-2023-3217 - NVD
2. Chromium Issue Tracker - Issue 1187803
3. WebXR Device API - MDN

Conclusion

CVE-2023-3217 is a high severity use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome's WebXR component that could result in heap corruption and potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the browser. It's important to ensure your browser is updated to the latest version and to exercise caution while browsing unfamiliar websites. Stay informed about security vulnerabilities like this one by regularly following updates and advisories from Google Chrome and other software providers.

Timeline

Published on: 06/13/2023 18:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 06/22/2023 15:47:00 UTC