CVE-2023-0471: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2023-0471 Overview

CVE-2023-0471 is a Use After Free vulnerability in the WebTransport component of Google Chrome prior to version 109.0.5414.119. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a crafted HTML page, which could lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process.

Critical Impact

A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by enticing a user to visit a malicious webpage, potentially gaining control over the affected system through heap corruption exploitation.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 109.0.5414.119
• All platforms running vulnerable Chrome versions (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• Chromium-based browsers using affected WebTransport components

Discovery Timeline

• 2023-01-24 - Google releases security patch in Chrome 109.0.5414.119
• 2023-01-30 - CVE-2023-0471 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-0471

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free), a memory corruption issue that occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been freed. In the context of the WebTransport implementation in Google Chrome, this flaw enables attackers to manipulate freed memory regions through specially crafted web content.

WebTransport is a modern API designed for efficient bidirectional communication between web clients and servers. The vulnerability exists in how Chrome handles memory lifecycle management within the WebTransport component. When specific sequences of operations are performed, the browser may access memory that has already been deallocated, leading to undefined behavior that attackers can weaponize.

The attack requires user interaction - specifically, the victim must navigate to a malicious webpage containing the exploit payload. Once triggered, the use-after-free condition can be leveraged to achieve heap corruption, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2023-0471 lies in improper memory management within Chrome's WebTransport implementation. The vulnerability stems from a race condition or logic error that causes the browser to retain and subsequently dereference a pointer to memory that has been freed during WebTransport session handling. This creates a dangling pointer scenario where subsequent access attempts interact with invalid or attacker-controlled memory regions.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must craft a malicious HTML page that triggers the specific sequence of WebTransport operations leading to the use-after-free condition. The attack flow typically involves:

1. Victim visits an attacker-controlled or compromised website
2. The malicious page initiates WebTransport connections with specific timing
3. Memory deallocation occurs while references remain active
4. Subsequent operations access the freed memory
5. Heap corruption enables potential code execution

The vulnerability is exploitable through standard web browsing without requiring any special permissions or elevated privileges from the victim. For detailed technical information, refer to the Chrome Bug Report #1376354.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-0471

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual browser crashes or instability when visiting specific websites
• Unexpected memory access violations in Chrome's WebTransport component
• Process anomalies in Chrome renderer processes following web navigation
• Evidence of heap spray techniques in browser memory

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for Chrome versions below 109.0.5414.119 across the enterprise environment
• Implement browser version tracking and compliance reporting
• Deploy endpoint detection rules for use-after-free exploitation patterns
• Enable Chrome crash reporting to identify potential exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure SentinelOne agents to detect memory corruption exploitation techniques
• Monitor for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns associated with WebTransport APIs
• Track network connections to known malicious domains hosting browser exploits
• Implement browser process behavioral monitoring for anomalous memory operations

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-0471

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 109.0.5414.119 or later immediately
• Enable automatic Chrome updates to ensure timely security patches
• Audit all endpoints to identify systems running vulnerable Chrome versions
• Consider temporary browser restrictions for high-risk environments until patching is complete

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 109.0.5414.119, released on January 24, 2023. The fix resolves the memory management issue in the WebTransport component that allowed the use-after-free condition. Organizations should prioritize deploying this update across all managed endpoints.

For complete patch details, see the Google Chrome Stable Channel Update.

Workarounds

• Restrict access to untrusted websites until patches can be applied
• Implement web content filtering to block known exploit delivery domains
• Consider using browser isolation technologies for high-risk browsing activities
• Deploy network-level protections to detect and block WebTransport exploitation attempts

# Verify Chrome version on Linux/macOS systems
google-chrome --version

# Windows PowerShell - Check Chrome version across endpoints
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\chrome.exe" | Select-Object "(Default)"

# Force Chrome update via command line
google-chrome --check-for-update-interval=0