Google Chrome, one of the most widely used web browsers globally, has been identified with an integer overflow vulnerability (CVE-2023-0933) in its PDF handling mechanism that affects versions prior to 110..5481.177. This vulnerability potentially allows remote attackers to exploit heap corruption through a maliciously crafted PDF file, thus compromising the target user's system. This article examines the details and implications of this medium-severity security issue and possible mitigations.

References

1. Google Chrome Releases
2. Chromium Bug Tracker
3. CVE Details

Technical Details

The integer overflow vulnerability in Google Chrome is rooted in its handling of PDF files. The issue can be triggered when a PDF file containing specific data types is loaded in the browser, causing a read/write operation to result in an incorrect value. This condition subsequently leads to heap corruption, providing an attacker the opportunity to execute arbitrary code on the target system. A sample of the maliciously crafted PDF file might resemble the following snippet:

%PDF-1.X
1  obj
<<
/Type /Pages
/Kids [3 8 R]
/Count 2
>>
endobj
2  obj
<<
/Type /Catalog
/Pages 1  R
>>
endobj
... (truncated for brevity)

Exploit Details

A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a PDF file that contains specially formatted data, which causes an integer overflow when loaded in Google Chrome. The attacker can then host the malicious PDF on a website or send it directly to the target user via email or other methods of communication. Once the target user opens the PDF file in the vulnerable version of Google Chrome, heap corruption can occur, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code and cause various adverse effects on the target system, such as exfiltration of sensitive data or installation of additional malware.

Mitigations

Users are advised to update their Google Chrome installations to the latest version (110..5481.177) to address this security issue. Updating the browser ensures the vulnerability is patched, thus preventing potential exploits. To update Google Chrome, follow these steps:

Open Google Chrome.

2. In the upper-right corner, click the 'Customize and control Google Chrome' (three vertical dots) button.

From the drop-down menu, select 'Help' > 'About Google Chrome.'

4. The browser will prompt an installation, if available. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Alternatively, you can download the latest version of Google Chrome from the official website.

In addition to updating the browser, users should follow general security best practices, such as avoiding opening files from untrusted sources or visiting suspicious websites, to reduce their vulnerability to potential exploitation.

Conclusion

The discovery of the CVE-2023-0933 integer overflow vulnerability in Google Chrome's PDF handling mechanism highlights the importance of remaining vigilant and keeping software up-to-date to protect against potential remote exploits. Users should promptly update their Google Chrome installations to the latest version and follow best security practices to minimize exposure.

Timeline

Published on: 02/22/2023 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 02/28/2023 02:19:00 UTC