CVE-2023-5849: Google Chrome RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2023-5849 Overview

CVE-2023-5849 is an integer overflow vulnerability in the USB component of Google Chrome prior to version 119.0.6045.105. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page. The vulnerability was classified with high severity by Chromium's security team due to its potential for remote exploitation leading to arbitrary code execution.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this integer overflow vulnerability to achieve heap corruption, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution when users visit malicious web pages.

Affected Products

Google Chrome (versions prior to 119.0.6045.105)
Debian Linux 11.0 and 12.0
Fedora 37, 38, and 39

Discovery Timeline

2023-11-01 - CVE-2023-5849 published to NVD
2025-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-5849

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from an integer overflow condition (CWE-190) within Chrome's USB handling code. When the browser processes certain USB-related operations triggered by web content, insufficient validation of arithmetic operations allows integer values to wrap around, resulting in incorrect memory allocation sizes. This miscalculation leads to heap corruption when subsequent operations write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.

The attack requires user interaction—specifically, a victim must navigate to a malicious webpage containing the crafted exploit. Once triggered, the integer overflow corrupts heap memory structures, which attackers can leverage to gain control over program execution flow.

Root Cause

The root cause is an integer overflow vulnerability (CWE-190) in Chrome's USB component. When performing arithmetic operations on user-controlled or externally-supplied values related to USB data handling, the code fails to properly validate that the resulting values remain within expected bounds. This allows integer wraparound to occur, causing undersized memory allocations that are subsequently overwritten.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must convince a victim to visit a malicious webpage that contains specially crafted HTML content designed to trigger the integer overflow in the USB component. The attack flow involves:

Attacker hosts a malicious webpage containing crafted HTML/JavaScript
Victim navigates to the malicious page using a vulnerable Chrome browser
The crafted content triggers USB-related operations that cause integer overflow
Integer overflow leads to incorrect heap allocation size
Subsequent write operations corrupt heap memory
Attacker achieves potential code execution through heap corruption exploitation

The vulnerability can be exploited without special privileges on the attacker's part, though the victim must actively navigate to the malicious content.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-5849

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected Chrome crashes or memory-related errors when visiting unfamiliar websites
Chrome process exhibiting abnormal memory consumption patterns
Browser stability issues coinciding with visits to potentially malicious web content
Crash dumps indicating heap corruption in Chrome's USB-related components

Detection Strategies

Monitor for Chrome versions prior to 119.0.6045.105 across the environment
Implement browser version tracking and alerting for outdated installations
Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting heap corruption exploitation attempts
Review network traffic for connections to known malicious domains serving browser exploits

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Chrome's built-in crash reporting and monitor for patterns indicating exploitation attempts
Implement centralized logging of browser version information across managed endpoints
Configure security information and event management (SIEM) rules to alert on mass Chrome crashes
Monitor for suspicious child process spawning from Chrome that may indicate successful exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-5849

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 119.0.6045.105 or later immediately
Enable automatic Chrome updates to ensure timely security patches
Apply distribution-specific security updates for Debian and Fedora systems
Consider implementing browser isolation technologies for high-risk environments

Patch Information

Google addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 119.0.6045.105, released on October 31, 2023. The fix is documented in the Chrome Release Update. Technical details are tracked in Chrome Bug Report #1492384.

For Linux distributions:

Debian: Security update available via DSA-5546
Fedora: Updates available through Fedora Package Announcements
Gentoo: Security advisories GLSA 202311-11, GLSA 202312-07, and GLSA 202401-34

Workarounds

Restrict access to untrusted websites using web filtering or proxy solutions
Implement browser isolation for users who must access potentially risky content
Consider using alternative browsers temporarily if immediate patching is not feasible
Disable USB device access at the browser level if not required for business operations

bash

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

# Update Chrome on Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade google-chrome-stable

# Update Chrome on Fedora
sudo dnf update chromium