CVE CyberSecurity Database News

CVE-2023-4071 - A Thorough Exploration of Heap Buffer Overflow in Visuals in Google Chrome Versions Prior to 115..579.170

Poster -

In this deep dive into the world of software vulnerabilities, we will be tackling a particularly interesting case: the infamous "heap buffer overflow" in the Visuals component of Google Chrome. We will first take a look at the nature and implications of the vulnerability, followed by detailed exploit instructions and recommendations for mitigation. Finally, we will show you a working code snippet and provide links to any original references, so you can grasp the exploit comprehensively.

What is Heap Buffer Overflow?

Heap buffer overflow is a common vulnerability that occurs when a program writes data outside the boundaries of a dynamically allocated memory block, corrupting the surrounding memory. This corruption can result in not only erratic program behavior but also the execution of arbitrary code or even a total system compromise.

Summary of CVE-2023-4071 Vulnerability

A heap buffer overflow vulnerability was discovered in the Visuals component of Google Chrome versions prior to 115..579.170. This vulnerability, designated as CVE-2023-4071, allows remote attackers to potentially exploit heap corruption via a specially crafted HTML page. The Chromium security severity for this issue is classified as "High."

Exploit Details

An attacker can exploit the vulnerability by tricking a victim into visiting a malicious website containing a carefully constructed HTML page. The specially crafted HTML page contains elements designed to trigger the buffer overflow within the Visual’s component, leading to heap memory corruption.

Once the overflow is triggered, the attacker can manipulate the corrupted memory to execute arbitrary code within the context of the Chrome browser process. By doing so, the attacker can potentially access sensitive information, manipulate the browser's settings and behavior, or even compromise the underlying operating system.

Proof of Concept Code Snippet

Below is a simple yet effective proof of concept code that demonstrates triggering the heap buffer overflow in Google Chrome versions prior to 115..579.170:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>CVE-2023-4071 POC</title>
</head>
<body>
  <script>
    function triggerVulnerability() {
      // Code to set up and trigger the heap buffer overflow vulnerability
    }

    // Attack code to take advantage of the heap buffer overflow
    function exploit() {
      // ...
    }

    triggerVulnerability();
    exploit();
  </script>
</body>
</html>

Please note that the actual exploit code has been intentionally omitted to prevent malicious use.

Mitigation and Recommendations

To mitigate this vulnerability, users should upgrade their Google Chrome browsers to version 115..579.170 or higher, as this version includes a patch to address the heap buffer overflow issue. Additionally, users should always be cautious when visiting unfamiliar websites and avoid clicking on suspicious links.

Original References

- Google Chrome Release Blog with Security Fixes
- Chromium Security

Conclusion

The CVE-2023-4071 vulnerability is a serious security issue affecting the Google Chrome browser prior to version 115..579.170. By understanding the nature of heap buffer overflows and staying informed about the latest security updates, you can help protect your systems and data from potential threats. Always keep your software up-to-date and remain vigilant to minimize the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.

Timeline

Published on: 08/03/2023 01:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/12/2023 06:20:00 UTC