CVE-2023-5187
📋 TL;DR
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome's extension system that allows heap corruption. Attackers can exploit it by tricking users into installing malicious extensions and visiting crafted HTML pages. All Chrome users prior to version 117.0.5938.132 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google Chrome
- Chromium-based browsers
📦 What is this software?
Chrome by Google
Google Chrome is the world's most popular web browser, used by over 3 billion users globally across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. As a Chromium-based browser developed by Google, Chrome dominates the browser market with approximately 65% market share, making it a critical compon...
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⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise through arbitrary code execution, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or complete system control.
Likely Case
Browser compromise allowing session hijacking, credential theft, and installation of persistent malware through the malicious extension.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper extension vetting and user education, potentially just browser crash or denial of service.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires social engineering to install malicious extension plus crafted HTML page. No public exploit code available as of analysis.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 117.0.5938.132 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_27.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Chrome 2. Click menu (three dots) → Help → About Google Chrome 3. Chrome will automatically check for and install updates 4. Click 'Relaunch' to restart Chrome
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable extension installation
allPrevent users from installing new extensions to block the initial attack vector
chrome://settings/extensions → Toggle 'Allow extensions from other stores' to OFF
Restrict extension permissions
allLimit existing extension permissions to reduce potential impact
chrome://extensions → Click extension → Details → Site access → Choose 'On click' or 'On specific sites'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict extension whitelisting policies
- Deploy web filtering to block known malicious HTML pages
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version via chrome://settings/help or 'About Google Chrome' in menuCheck Version:
google-chrome --version (Linux) or chrome://version (all platforms)Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 117.0.5938.132 or higher📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with extension-related memory errors
- Unexpected extension installation events in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Connections to suspicious extension repositories
- Downloads of unusual .crx files
SIEM Query:
source="chrome" AND (event="extension_install" OR event="crash") AND version<"117.0.5938.132"🔗 References
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_27.html
- https://crbug.com/1475798
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/4MFWDFJSSIFKWKNOCTQCFUNZWAXUCSS4/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CWEJYS5NC7KVFYU3OAMPKQDYN6JQGVK6/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WTRUIS3564P7ZLM2S2IH4Y4KZ327LI4I/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-34
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5508
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_27.html
- https://crbug.com/1475798
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/4MFWDFJSSIFKWKNOCTQCFUNZWAXUCSS4/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CWEJYS5NC7KVFYU3OAMPKQDYN6JQGVK6/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/WTRUIS3564P7ZLM2S2IH4Y4KZ327LI4I/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-34
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5508
