CVE-2023-5996 Overview
CVE-2023-5996 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the WebAudio component of Google Chrome prior to version 119.0.6045.123. A remote attacker can exploit heap corruption by tricking a user into visiting a crafted HTML page. Chromium's security team rated the issue as High severity. The flaw affects Chrome on all supported desktop platforms and downstream distributions including Debian 11/12 and Fedora 38/39.
Successful exploitation enables an attacker to corrupt heap memory inside the renderer process, which can lead to arbitrary code execution within Chrome's sandboxed renderer. Combined with a sandbox escape, the issue could be used to compromise the host system.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can trigger heap corruption in the WebAudio subsystem through a crafted web page, enabling potential code execution in the Chrome renderer process.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 119.0.6045.123
- Debian Linux 11 and 12
- Fedora 38 and 39
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-11-08 - CVE-2023-5996 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2023-11 - Google releases stable channel update fixing the issue (see Google Chrome Stable Update)
- 2023-11 - Debian publishes Debian Security Advisory DSA-5551
- 2024-11-21 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-5996
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a use-after-free condition [CWE-416] in WebAudio, the Chromium component that implements the Web Audio API for processing and synthesizing audio in web pages. WebAudio manages audio graph nodes whose lifetimes are tied to JavaScript object references and internal audio rendering threads. When an object reference is released while another code path still holds a dangling pointer to the freed memory, subsequent access can read or write attacker-controlled heap data.
An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page that scripts a sequence of audio node creations, disconnections, and reconnections. Manipulating the audio graph at specific moments causes one component to retain a stale pointer after another path frees the underlying object. Reclaiming that freed allocation with controlled data results in heap corruption inside the renderer process.
Root Cause
The root cause is incorrect object lifetime management between the main thread, the audio rendering thread, and JavaScript-exposed audio nodes in WebAudio. A reference is released prematurely while a second path continues to dereference it, producing the classic use-after-free condition tracked in Chrome Bug Report #1497859.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is network-based and requires user interaction. A victim must load attacker-controlled HTML, either by visiting a malicious site or by rendering hostile content embedded in advertising, iframes, or compromised pages. No authentication is required. Once the crafted page executes, the vulnerable WebAudio code path is reached without further user action. Successful exploitation yields code execution in the sandboxed renderer, which adversaries typically chain with a sandbox escape to achieve full host compromise.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this CVE. Technical details are described in Chrome Bug Report #1497859.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-5996
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome renderer process crashes with heap corruption signatures originating from WebAudio call stacks
- Unexpected child processes spawned by chrome.exe or the renderer following navigation to an untrusted site
- Outbound connections from the browser to low-reputation domains hosting heavy WebAudio JavaScript payloads
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all Chrome installations and flag any build older than 119.0.6045.123 as vulnerable
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for renderer process crashes referencing blink::WebAudio or AudioNode symbols
- Inspect web proxy and DNS logs for users browsing to newly registered or uncategorized domains delivering WebAudio-heavy content
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable browser crash reporting and forward dumps to a central analysis pipeline for review
- Alert on renderer-to-host privilege transitions or unexpected process injection events following web navigation
- Track Chrome version distribution across the fleet to confirm patch compliance over time
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-5996
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 119.0.6045.123 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
- Apply distribution updates for Debian via DSA-5551 and Fedora via the Fedora Package Announcement
- Restart all browser instances after patching to ensure the new binary is loaded
- Audit Chromium-derived browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) and apply their corresponding upstream fixes
Patch Information
Google fixed the issue in Chrome stable channel 119.0.6045.123. See the Google Chrome Stable Update announcement. Gentoo published GLSA 202311-11, GLSA 202312-07, and GLSA 202401-34 covering Chromium and dependent packages.
Workarounds
- Enforce automatic browser updates through enterprise policy to eliminate version drift
- Restrict browsing to trusted sites using URL filtering or DNS-based protections until patching completes
- Disable WebAudio via enterprise policy on high-risk endpoints where audio processing in the browser is not required
# Verify the installed Chrome version meets or exceeds the patched build
google-chrome --version
# Debian / Ubuntu: apply security updates
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade google-chrome-stable chromium
# Fedora: apply security updates
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh chromium google-chrome-stable
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
