CVE-2023-3079
Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2023-3079 is a type confusion vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome. This security flaw, present in Chrome versions prior to 114.0.5735.110, allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption by tricking a user into visiting a crafted HTML page. The type confusion vulnerability in V8 can lead to arbitrary code execution within the browser context, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2023-3079 in the wild by adding it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a remediation deadline of June 28, 2023. Beyond Google Chrome, the vulnerability also affects Chromium-based browsers and products including Fedora, Debian Linux, Apple macOS, and Couchbase Server that incorporate the V8 engine.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| chrome | < 114.0.5735.110 | |
| fedoraproject | fedora | 37; 38 |
| debian | debian linux | 11.0; 12.0 |
| apple | macos | - |
| linux | linux kernel | - |
| couchbase | couchbase server | < 7.1.5; 7.2.0 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176211/Chrome-V8-Type-Confusion.html(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176212/Chrome-V8-Type-Confusion-New-Sandbox-Escape.html(Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/06/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html(Vendor Advisory)
- https://crbug.com/1450481(Exploit, Issue Tracking)
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/DYTXO5E3FI3I2ETDP3HF4SHYYTFMKMIC/(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/U4OXTNIZY4JYHJT7CVLPAJQILI6BISVM/(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202311-11(Third Party Advisory)
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-34(Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.couchbase.com/alerts/(Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5420(Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-3079(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-843: Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type (Type Confusion)
The type confusion vulnerability in Google Chrome V8 occurs when the JavaScript engine accesses a resource using a type that is incompatible with the actual type of the object. In the context of CVE-2023-3079, V8 incorrectly handles type information during JavaScript execution, causing it to treat an object as a different type than what was allocated, leading to heap corruption and potential arbitrary code execution.
Learn more: CWE-843 — Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type (Type Confusion)
Impact Analysis
CVE-2023-3079 carries a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 (High), reflecting the significant impact a successful exploitation can have. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without physical access over the network and is easy to exploit with no special conditions needed, though it does require user interaction in the form of visiting a malicious web page. No authentication is needed for the attacker to trigger the type confusion flaw. Confidentiality (High): Successful exploitation can expose sensitive data within the browser process, including stored credentials, session tokens, and browsing data. Integrity (High): An attacker gaining code execution through heap corruption can modify browser data, inject malicious scripts, or tamper with web content. Availability (High): The heap corruption caused by the type confusion can crash the browser or render it unusable. While the EPSS score of 1.56% suggests exploitation is not yet widespread at scale, the confirmed active exploitation via CISA's KEV catalog means that targeted attacks are occurring and Chrome users should update immediately.
Exploit Maturity
Public exploit code is available for CVE-2023-3079 via Packet Storm Security and a sandbox escape variant, and the original bug report with exploit details is tracked at crbug.com/1450481. CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2023-3079 in the wild by including it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of June 28, 2023, though the ransomware association is currently unknown. The EPSS score of 1.56% (81st percentile) suggests that while targeted exploitation is confirmed, mass exploitation has not been widely observed. The availability of multiple public proof-of-concept exploits, including a sandbox escape variant, increases the risk of broader adoption by threat actors.
Remediation
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Update Google Chrome immediately to version 114.0.5735.110 or later as directed by CISA: "Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable." Ensure automatic updates are enabled to receive future V8 security patches promptly.
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Update all Chromium-based browsers and products that embed the V8 engine, including Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and other Chromium derivatives. Additionally, apply security updates for affected Linux distributions (Fedora, Debian) and Couchbase Server as referenced in their respective advisories.
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Implement browser isolation and sandboxing controls as interim mitigations. Enable site isolation in Chrome, restrict access to untrusted websites through web filtering or proxy solutions, and consider deploying browser isolation technology for high-risk users to contain potential exploitation within an isolated environment.
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Monitor for indicators of compromise by reviewing endpoint detection logs for unusual browser process behavior, such as unexpected child processes spawned by Chrome, anomalous memory access patterns, or signs of sandbox escape. Check for any unauthorized downloads or lateral movement originating from browser processes.
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Deploy content security policies and script controls to reduce the attack surface for type confusion vulnerabilities. Use enterprise browser management to disable JavaScript on untrusted sites where feasible, and implement network-level protections such as DNS filtering to block known malicious domains that may host exploit pages.
Technical Details
CVE-2023-3079 is a type confusion vulnerability (CWE-843) in the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers. Type confusion occurs when V8 allocates or accesses an object using one type but later operates on it as a different, incompatible type, leading to incorrect memory layout assumptions and heap corruption. As indicated by the CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), an attacker can trigger this vulnerability remotely by serving a specially crafted HTML page, requiring only that the victim navigate to the malicious page. The low attack complexity reflects that the type confusion can be reliably triggered through JavaScript code without requiring specific runtime conditions. Once heap corruption is achieved, an attacker can manipulate V8 internal data structures to gain arbitrary read/write primitives, ultimately achieving code execution within the renderer process and potentially escaping the Chrome sandbox as demonstrated by the available proof-of-concept exploits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2023-3079 being actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2023-3079 is being actively exploited in the wild. CISA has added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of June 28, 2023. Public exploit code including sandbox escape variants is available, increasing the risk profile for unpatched Chrome installations.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-3079?
CVE-2023-3079 primarily affects Google Chrome versions prior to 114.0.5735.110. Due to the shared V8 engine, the vulnerability also impacts Chromium-based browsers and products including Fedora, Debian Linux, Apple macOS systems running Chrome, and Couchbase Server. All platforms running vulnerable Chrome or Chromium-derived browsers should be updated.
How do I fix CVE-2023-3079?
Update Google Chrome to version 114.0.5735.110 or later immediately. For other affected products, apply the relevant security patches from Fedora, Debian, and Couchbase. As an interim measure, restrict access to untrusted websites and enable browser site isolation features.
How severe is CVE-2023-3079?
CVE-2023-3079 is rated High severity with a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 out of 10. It is in the 81st percentile for exploitation probability with an EPSS score of 1.56%. While the EPSS score indicates exploitation is somewhat targeted rather than widespread, the confirmed active exploitation and available public exploits make immediate patching essential.
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