CVE-2023-5852
📋 TL;DR
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome's printing component that allows heap corruption when users perform specific UI gestures. Attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code or crash the browser by tricking users into interacting with malicious content. All Chrome users prior to version 119.0.6045.105 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
Remote code execution leading to full system compromise, data theft, or ransomware deployment
Likely Case
Browser crash (denial of service) or limited code execution within sandbox constraints
If Mitigated
No impact if Chrome is updated or if users avoid suspicious UI interactions
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user interaction with specific UI gestures; no public exploit code available at disclosure
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 119.0.6045.105 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_31.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 with the patched version
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Chrome auto-updates (temporary)
allPrevent Chrome from updating while testing compatibility, but update manually as soon as possible
# Linux: sudo apt-mark hold google-chrome-stable
# macOS: Disable via Chrome settings → Advanced → Update
# Windows: Disable via Group Policy or registry
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict user access to untrusted websites and disable printing functionality
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized Chrome execution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version: if below 119.0.6045.105, you are vulnerableCheck Version:
google-chrome --version (Linux/macOS) or navigate to chrome://version/Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 119.0.6045.105 or higher after update📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with printing-related stack traces
- Unexpected Chrome process termination events
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections following Chrome crashes
- Traffic to known exploit hosting domains
SIEM Query:
source="chrome_logs" AND (event="crash" OR event="segfault") AND process="chrome" AND module="printing"🔗 References
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_31.html
- https://crbug.com/1480852
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2MHLJRFWZNY6BFOW25Q4FEESVWZKS4C2/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/EBA4KD5ZSV6XWWFLVR5UBYKKNOYMH33H/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PHWLT3M2AQDFD7RNAM3NJMYUC5KHMO5V/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202311-11
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202312-07
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-34
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5546
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_31.html
- https://crbug.com/1480852
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2MHLJRFWZNY6BFOW25Q4FEESVWZKS4C2/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/EBA4KD5ZSV6XWWFLVR5UBYKKNOYMH33H/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PHWLT3M2AQDFD7RNAM3NJMYUC5KHMO5V/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202311-11
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202312-07
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-34
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5546
