CVE-2023-5856
📋 TL;DR
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome's Side Panel feature that could allow remote attackers to exploit heap corruption. Attackers can trigger this by convincing users to perform specific UI gestures on a crafted HTML page, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. All users of affected Chrome versions are at risk.
💻 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 with the privileges of the Chrome process, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or malware installation.
Likely Case
Browser crash (denial of service) or limited information disclosure through memory corruption.
If Mitigated
No impact if Chrome is updated to patched version or if users avoid suspicious websites and UI gestures.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user interaction with specific UI gestures on a crafted page. No public exploit code has been disclosed as of the advisory.
🛠️ 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 the three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. 3. Chrome will automatically check for and install updates. 4. Click 'Relaunch' to restart Chrome with the patched version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Side Panel
allTemporarily disable the Side Panel feature to prevent exploitation
chrome://flags/#side-panel
Set 'Side Panel' to 'Disabled'
Relaunch Chrome
Disable JavaScript
allDisable JavaScript to prevent malicious page execution (impacts functionality)
chrome://settings/content/javascript
Toggle 'Allowed (recommended)' to 'Blocked'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Use alternative browsers until Chrome can be updated
- Implement strict web filtering to block access to untrusted websites
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version: If version is less than 119.0.6045.105, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
chrome://version/ (look for 'Google Chrome' version number)Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 119.0.6045.105 or higher after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with memory corruption errors
- Unexpected Chrome process termination
Network Indicators:
- Requests to unusual domains with crafted HTML content
- Multiple Chrome crashes from same user/system
SIEM Query:
source="chrome" AND (event_type="crash" OR message="*heap corruption*" OR message="*use-after-free*")🔗 References
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_31.html
- https://crbug.com/1493380
- 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/1493380
- 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
