CVE-2018-18338 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in Google Chrome versions prior to 71.0.3578.80 allowed a remote attacker to potentially manipulate heap corruption by utilizing a crafted HTML page due to incorrect and thread-unsafe usage of SkImage in Canvas.

Understanding CVE-2018-18338

This CVE identifies a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in Google Chrome.

What is CVE-2018-18338?

The vulnerability in Google Chrome versions before 71.0.3578.80 could be exploited by a remote attacker to potentially cause heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18338

The vulnerability could lead to heap corruption, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code or crash the application.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18338

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stemmed from the incorrect and thread-unsafe usage of SkImage in Canvas in Google Chrome versions prior to 71.0.3578.80.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Versions Affected: < 71.0.3578.80

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by a remote attacker through a crafted HTML page to trigger heap corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-18338 with these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 71.0.3578.80 or later.
Avoid visiting untrusted websites or clicking on suspicious links.
Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe browsing practices and the importance of software updates.

Patching and Updates

Google released a stable channel update addressing this vulnerability. Ensure timely installation of security patches.