CVE-2023-4763 Overview
CVE-2023-4763 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Networks component of Google Chrome prior to version 116.0.5845.179. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a crafted HTML page. The vulnerability was classified by Chromium with a security severity of High.
Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, cause application crashes, or corrupt data. In the context of a web browser like Chrome, this type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by visiting a malicious webpage.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit heap corruption via specially crafted HTML pages, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 116.0.5845.179
- Debian Linux 11.0
- Debian Linux 12.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-09-05 - CVE-2023-4763 published to NVD
- 2025-05-05 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-4763
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability resides in the Networks component of Google Chrome and is classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free). The flaw enables remote attackers to potentially achieve heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page delivered to unsuspecting users.
Use-after-free vulnerabilities in browser networking code are particularly impactful because they can be triggered remotely without any user authentication. An attacker needs only to convince a victim to visit a malicious website or load malicious content embedded in an otherwise legitimate page.
The attack requires user interaction (visiting a malicious page), but once triggered, the vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data accessible to the browser process. This includes potential access to sensitive information such as cookies, stored credentials, and browsing data.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2023-4763 is improper memory management in the Networks component of Google Chrome. Specifically, the browser code continues to reference a memory object after it has been deallocated (freed). This creates a dangling pointer that, when dereferenced, can lead to unpredictable behavior.
When an attacker crafts a specific sequence of network operations or HTML elements that trigger the use-after-free condition, they can potentially control what data occupies the freed memory region. By carefully timing memory allocations, an attacker can place controlled data in the freed memory location, which the browser then incorrectly interprets as valid object data.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for CVE-2023-4763 is network-based and requires user interaction. The exploitation scenario involves:
Attacker Preparation: The attacker creates a malicious HTML page containing content designed to trigger the use-after-free condition in Chrome's Networks component.
Delivery: The victim is lured to visit the malicious page through phishing, malvertising, or compromised legitimate websites.
Exploitation: When the victim's vulnerable Chrome browser processes the malicious page, the use-after-free condition is triggered, potentially corrupting the heap.
Code Execution: If successfully exploited, the heap corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome browser process.
The vulnerability can be exploited remotely with low attack complexity, requiring no privileges but depending on user interaction (visiting a malicious page).
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-4763
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected Chrome browser crashes, particularly when visiting unfamiliar websites
- Memory access violations or heap corruption errors in Chrome crash logs
- Unusual network requests originating from Chrome to unknown or suspicious domains
- Signs of code injection or unexpected child processes spawned by Chrome
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Chrome version deployments across the enterprise to identify systems running vulnerable versions (prior to 116.0.5845.179)
- Implement endpoint detection rules to identify Chrome crash patterns consistent with heap corruption exploits
- Deploy network-based detection for suspicious HTML content delivery patterns
- Utilize browser telemetry and crash reporting to identify potential exploitation attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Chrome's built-in crash reporting and monitor for patterns indicating exploitation attempts
- Implement web filtering to block access to known malicious domains serving exploits
- Monitor endpoint processes for unusual behavior following Chrome browser activity
- Review browser extension activity and monitor for malicious add-ons that could facilitate attacks
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-4763
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 116.0.5845.179 or later immediately across all systems
- Enable automatic Chrome updates to ensure timely patching of future vulnerabilities
- Review and apply security updates from Debian (DSA-5491) and Fedora package announcements for affected Linux distributions
- Consider temporary browser isolation for high-risk users until patching is complete
Patch Information
Google has released a security patch addressing this vulnerability in Chrome version 116.0.5845.179. The patch is available through Chrome's automatic update mechanism and via manual download from Google's website.
For detailed information about this security update, refer to the Google Chrome Releases Blog. Additional technical details are available in the Chromium Bug Report #1469928.
Linux distributions have also released updates:
Workarounds
- Restrict access to untrusted websites using web filtering or proxy solutions until patching is complete
- Consider using alternative browsers temporarily for high-risk activities if immediate patching is not possible
- Enable Chrome's Site Isolation feature for additional process-level protection
- Implement browser sandboxing solutions to limit the impact of potential exploitation
# Verify Chrome version on Linux systems
google-chrome --version
# Update Chrome on Debian-based systems
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade chromium
# Check for pending security updates on Debian
sudo apt list --upgradable | grep -i chrom
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
