CVE-2023-4428: Cybersecurity Vulnerability Alert - Out of Bounds Memory Access in CSS Found in Google Chrome Versions Before 116..5845.110

In a recent disclosure (CVE-2023-4428), cybersecurity researchers have identified a significant vulnerability in Google Chrome's rendering engine, which poses a high risk to its users. This vulnerability relates to an out-of-bounds (OOB) memory access issue in the handling of CSS, allowing remote attackers to potentially read sensitive information from memory through a specifically crafted HTML page. Users of Google Chrome versions before 116..5845.110 are advised to update their browsers immediately to protect against this threat.

What is CVE-2023-4428?

CVE-2023-4428 refers to a high-severity cybersecurity vulnerability found in Google Chrome's rendering engine, specifically within the implementation of CSS. If exploited, attackers can perform an out-of-bounds memory read through a specially crafted HTML page, leading to potential data leakage and various security risks, such as theft of sensitive information.

The identified vulnerability stems from Google Chrome's handling of specific CSS features, which allows for an out-of-bounds memory access. This error can enable attackers to bypass certain security mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in memory.

Code Snippet Illustrating the Vulnerability

While the exact code exploiting this vulnerability is not public, we can provide an overview of where the problematic code might reside:

// Hypothetical example, not actual exploit code
function renderCSS(cssInput) {
  var buffer = new ArrayBuffer(cssInput.length);
  var view = new Uint8Array(buffer);

  for (var i = ; i < cssInput.length; i++) {
    view[i] = cssInput.charCodeAt(i);
  }

  // Out-of-bounds memory access occurs here due to improper bounds checking
  var outOfBoundsIndex = cssInput.length + 10;
  var outOfBoundsValue = view[outOfBoundsIndex];

  return outOfBoundsValue;
}

The hypothetical snippet above demonstrates a lack of proper bounds checking, allowing out-of-bounds access to memory which should not be accessible.

Relevant Links and References

1. Chromium Security Advisory: link to Chromium Security posting about the vulnerability
2. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry: CVE-2023-4428 details on NVD
3. Google Chrome Releases Blog Post: Google Chrome Stable Channel Updates

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would typically craft an HTML page containing malicious CSS code which triggers the out-of-bounds memory access issue. Once a user visits the page with a vulnerable version of Google Chrome, the attacker can potentially read sensitive information stored in memory, such as login credentials, cookie data, or even information from other running applications.

Due to the severity of this vulnerability, users are strongly urged to update their Google Chrome browser to version 116..5845.110 or later. This update addresses the issue and ensures that users are protected against potential exploits related to CVE-2023-4428.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-4428 is a high-severity vulnerability that affects Google Chrome versions before 116..5845.110. Users are advised to update their browsers immediately to mitigate the risk of unauthorized memory access and prevent potential data leakage. As always, practicing safe browsing habits and keeping software up-to-date are essential steps in maintaining a secure online presence.

Timeline

Published on: 08/23/2023 00:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/25/2023 13:18:00 UTC