Zero-day vulnerability in Google Chrome

Use-after-free
CVE-2019-5786

The vulnerability in Google Chrome was used in a targeted attack along with another zero-day in Microsoft Windows.

The initial attack was detected in late February.

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2019030405 - Remote code execution in Google Chrome

Vulnerable component: Google Chrome

CVE-ID: CVE-2019-5786

CVSSv3 score: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

CWE-ID: CWE-416 - Use After Free

Description:

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to compromise vulnerable system.

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error in FileReader. A remote attacker can trick the victim into opening a specially crafted file with Google Chrome, trigger use-after-free error and execute arbitrary code on the target system.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability may allow an attacker to compromise vulnerable system.

Note: the vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.

Public Exploits:

- Google Chrome 72.0.3626.119 - 'FileReader' Use-After-Free (Metasploit) [Exploit-DB]

External links:

https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2019/03/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html
https://security.googleblog.com/2019/03/disclosing-vulnerabilities-to-protect.html

About zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerability is an undisclosed vulnerability in software that hackers can exploit to compromise computer programs, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, penetrate networks, etc. We consider vulnerability a zero-day when there is no solution provided from software vendor and the vulnerability is being actively exploited by malicious actors.

Zero-day candidate is a potential zero-day vulnerability in software which might have been used in targeted attacks, however there is no evidence to support this suggestion.