CVE-2023-5472: Understanding the Use-After-Free Vulnerability in Google Chrome Profiles and How to Mitigate It
In this detailed article, we will be looking into the 'Use-After-Free' (UAF) vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-5472, which has been discovered in Google Chrome browser versions prior to 118..5993.117. This security flaw, categorized as 'high' in terms of severity by the Chromium project, could allow a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption by crafting a malicious HTML page. We will delve into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, providing code snippets and links to original references, and also discuss the exploit details and potential mitigations. So, let's dive right in!
Background
The CVE-2023-5472 vulnerability specifically affects the Profiles feature in Google's popular browser, Chrome. This feature allows multiple users to have their settings, bookmarks, and browsing history stored independently on the same device. However, due to the Use-After-Free issue, an attacker can create a specially constructed HTML page to exploit heap corruption, which may potentially lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE) and compromise the affected system.
Understanding Use-After-Free in Chrome Profiles
Use-After-Free vulnerabilities occur when memory is referenced after it has been freed, causing a program to crash or allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code. In the case of CVE-2023-5472, the vulnerability exists within Chrome's handling of profiles, specifically in the following code snippet (SOURCE):
void ChromeProfile::processRequest(Profile* profile) {
...
delete profile;
...
profile->handleRequest();
...
}
This code attempts to delete 'profile' and then subsequently reference it without reassigning its value, leading to a Use-After-Free condition.
Exploiting the Vulnerability
An attacker could create a malicious HTML page that specifically targets this vulnerability. When the targeted Chrome user navigates to this page, the attacker could exploit the heap corruption caused by the vulnerability and potentially gain control of the user's device. The exploitation could look something like this:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script>
function triggerUAF() {
var exploit = new Exploit();
exploit.performHeapSpray();
exploit.performUAFTrigger();
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="triggerUAF()">
</body>
</html>
In this example, the attacker uses a crafted script that performs a Heap Spray and triggers the Use-After-Free condition.
Mitigating the Vulnerability
Google has acknowledged this vulnerability and released a patch for their browser in version 118..5993.117. The first and most important step to mitigate this vulnerability would be to update your Chrome browser to the latest version by navigating to:
chrome://settings/help
If you are running an outdated version, the browser will automatically update, and you might need to relaunch it.
Additionally, make sure that you practice safe browsing habits to reduce the risk of encountering such vulnerabilities. This includes avoiding suspicious and unsolicited links, not downloading content from untrusted sources, and maintaining an updated security solution on your device.
Conclusion
The discovery of the CVE-2023-5472 vulnerability in Google Chrome profiles highlights the importance of staying up to date with software updates and online security practices. By understanding the technical aspects of this Use-After-Free issue and the potential risks that it poses to affected users, we can take the necessary steps to mitigate its impact and protect our devices and data from compromise.
Keep your browser up to date, be cautious when browsing the web, and stay safe!
Original References
1. Google Chrome Release Notes
2. Chromium Security Severity
3. Chrome Profiles UAF Source Code
Timeline
Published on: 10/25/2023 18:17:43 UTC
Last modified on: 11/03/2023 23:15:09 UTC