CVE-2023-5854: Exploiting Heap Corruption in Google Chrome via UI Gestures
In CVE-2023-5854, a security vulnerability was discovered in Google Chrome that allowed a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption via specific UI gestures. This vulnerability affects Google Chrome versions prior to 119..6045.105. In this post, we will analyze the details of the exploit, provide a code snippet, links to original references, and discuss the potential risks involved with this vulnerability. This post is aimed at users with a basic understanding of computer security, but we'll try our best to make it simple and inclusive for everyone.
Exploit Details
The vulnerability in question is a "use-after-free" vulnerability present in the Profiles feature in Google Chrome. A "use-after-free" vulnerability occurs when a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, and this can lead to heap corruption.
Heap corruption is a serious issue in memory management as it could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, thus compromising the security of the user's computer.
In the case of CVE-2023-5854, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by convincing a user to perform specific UI gestures in Google Chrome, such as clicking, dragging, or scrolling. These actions can then be used to manipulate the memory to potentially execute malicious code.
Code Snippet
The following code snippet demonstrates an example of the type of UI operations that can be used to exploit the vulnerability:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script>
function triggerVulnerability() {
// Simulate the specific UI gestures that trigger the vulnerability
// The actual malicious code to exploit the vulnerability would be inserted here
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<button onclick="triggerVulnerability()">
Click here to test the vulnerability
</button>
</body>
</html>
This code creates an HTML page containing a button that, when clicked, triggers the triggerVulnerability() function. This sample code does not contain the actual malicious payload used to exploit the vulnerability, as it is intended for illustrative purposes only.
Original References
The vulnerability was reported in the Chromium project's bug tracker, and you can find the original report here.
Google has addressed the vulnerability in version 119..6045.105 of Google Chrome. The official release notes for this version containing the fix can be found at the following link: Google Chrome Release Notes
Mitigation Measures
To protect yourself from this vulnerability, it is highly recommended to update your Google Chrome browser to the latest version. You can check and update your browser's version by going to the "Help > About Google Chrome" menu.
Finally, it is essential to use caution when engaging with websites and content that prompt you to perform unfamiliar UI gestures, as this could potentially expose you to security vulnerabilities such as CVE-2023-5854.
Timeline
Published on: 11/01/2023 18:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 11/14/2023 03:15:11 UTC