CVE-2023-5997: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2023-5997 Overview

CVE-2023-5997 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Garbage Collection component of Google Chrome prior to version 119.0.6045.159. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the browser context.

Critical Impact

This use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome's Garbage Collection mechanism could allow attackers to achieve remote code execution by convincing users to visit a malicious webpage, potentially compromising user systems and sensitive data.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome prior to version 119.0.6045.159
• Fedora 37, 38, and 39 (Chromium-based packages)
• Debian Linux 11.0 and 12.0

Discovery Timeline

• November 15, 2023 - CVE-2023-5997 published to NVD
• November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-5997

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free), a critical 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 Google Chrome's Garbage Collection component, this flaw creates a dangerous condition where freed memory can be reallocated and manipulated by an attacker.

The Garbage Collection subsystem in Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine is responsible for automatically managing memory allocation and deallocation for JavaScript objects. When a use-after-free condition occurs in this component, it can lead to heap corruption, which attackers can leverage to gain control over program execution flow.

The vulnerability requires user interaction—specifically, a victim must navigate to a malicious webpage containing the crafted HTML payload. Once triggered, the heap corruption could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2023-5997 lies in improper memory management within Chrome's Garbage Collection implementation. During the garbage collection cycle, an object reference is improperly maintained after the underlying memory has been freed. This dangling pointer creates a window where subsequent memory operations can access or modify deallocated memory regions, leading to heap corruption.

The issue stems from a race condition or improper synchronization in the garbage collector's object lifecycle management, where the collector prematurely frees memory that is still referenced by active JavaScript code or internal browser components.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2023-5997 is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must craft a malicious HTML page that triggers the specific garbage collection sequence leading to the use-after-free condition. The exploitation scenario typically involves:

1. An attacker creates a webpage with specially crafted JavaScript that manipulates object allocations and garbage collection timing
2. The victim is lured to visit the malicious page through phishing, malvertising, or compromised legitimate websites
3. The crafted JavaScript triggers the garbage collection bug, causing heap corruption
4. The attacker exploits the corrupted heap state to achieve arbitrary code execution

The vulnerability affects all platforms where vulnerable Chrome versions are installed, including Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-5997

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected Chrome browser crashes or instability, particularly when visiting unfamiliar websites
• Anomalous memory consumption patterns in Chrome processes
• Suspicious JavaScript execution attempting to trigger garbage collection cycles rapidly
• Browser process spawning unexpected child processes or accessing unusual system resources

Detection Strategies

• Monitor browser version deployments across the organization to identify systems running Chrome versions prior to 119.0.6045.159
• Implement endpoint detection rules that flag unusual memory access patterns in browser processes
• Deploy web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains hosting exploitation attempts
• Configure browser-based telemetry to detect rapid object allocation/deallocation patterns characteristic of heap spraying attacks

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Chrome's built-in security reporting features to capture crash dumps for analysis
• Monitor network traffic for connections to suspicious domains or IP addresses following browser usage
• Implement application allowlisting to detect unauthorized code execution originating from browser processes
• Review security logs for evidence of post-exploitation activity such as credential harvesting or lateral movement

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-5997

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 119.0.6045.159 or later immediately across all managed endpoints
• Enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely delivery of future security patches
• Educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and clicking on suspicious links
• Consider deploying browser isolation technologies for high-risk users or sensitive environments

Patch Information

Google released a security update addressing CVE-2023-5997 on November 14, 2023, as documented in the Chrome Stable Channel Update. Users should update to Chrome version 119.0.6045.159 or later. Additionally, downstream distributions have released corresponding patches:

• Debian Security Advisory DSA-5556
• Gentoo GLSA 202311-11
• Fedora package updates available through standard package managers

Workarounds

• If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporarily using an alternative browser until Chrome can be updated
• Implement strict web content filtering to block access to untrusted or suspicious websites
• Enable site isolation in Chrome to limit the impact of potential exploitation
• Deploy network-level protections such as web application firewalls with rules to detect exploitation attempts

# Verify Chrome version on Linux systems
google-chrome --version
# Expected output should be 119.0.6045.159 or higher

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

# Update Chrome on Fedora
sudo dnf update chromium