Google Chrome is a widely-used web browser, and with its continuous updates and improvements, it remains one of the most preferable choices for users worldwide. However, just like any other software, vulnerabilities are discovered from time to time. This post discusses one such vulnerability - CVE-2023-4431 - in Google Chrome versions prior to 116..5845.110.

Through this vulnerability, a remote attacker could perform an out of bounds memory read using a specially crafted HTML page. The Chromium security team has classified this vulnerability under "Medium" severity. In this post, we will explore the details of CVE-2023-4431, possible exploit scenarios, and ways to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Details

CVE-2023-4431 is a result of out-of-bounds memory access in the font handling mechanism. A flaw in the Google Chrome font engine permits a specially designed HTML page to trigger an out-of-bounds memory read, subsequently resulting in the disclosure of sensitive memory content to an attacker.

This vulnerability occurs due to improper validation of user-supplied data when processing fonts in a web page. The attacker creates a malicious HTML page with specific font data that triggers the vulnerability and sends it to the user. When the user visits the page, the attacker can read sensitive information from the victim's memory through the browser.

Exploit Scenario

Suppose an attacker has crafted the following HTML page containing a font definition and a script that triggers the vulnerability:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <style>
      @font-face {
        font-family: "MaliciousFont";
        src: url("malicious_font.woff");
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <p style="font-family: MaliciousFont;">Trigger CVE-2023-4431</p>
    <script>
      // Some malicious JavaScript code to exploit the vulnerability
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

In this case, if a user opens the malicious HTML page, the font data would be processed by the browser, causing an out-of-bounds memory read. The attacker could then use the collected data to further exploit the user's system or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Mitigation

To mitigate the CVE-2023-4431 vulnerability, users are advised to update their Google Chrome browser to version 116..5845.110 or later. Updating to the latest version ensures that the vulnerability is patched, and the out-of-bounds memory access can no longer be triggered.

Original References

1. The Chromium Projects - Security Updates: https://www.chromium.org/Home/chromium-security
2. National Vulnerability Database -CVE-2023-4431: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4431

Conclusion

Google Chrome's CVE-2023-4431 vulnerability emphasizes the need for regular software updates to keep your system protected. Always ensure that your operating system, web browser, and other installed applications are up to date and patched for any known vulnerabilities. By diligently applying updates, you significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of cyberattacks exploiting known vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 08/23/2023 00:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/25/2023 13:19:00 UTC