CVE-2018-6151 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Google Chrome versions prior to 66.0.3359.117 on Windows, Linux, Mac, and Chrome OS were vulnerable to an out-of-bounds memory read exploit through a malicious Chrome Extension.

Understanding CVE-2018-6151

DevTools in Google Chrome had a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to exploit out-of-bounds memory read.

What is CVE-2018-6151?

The vulnerability in Google Chrome versions earlier than 66.0.3359.117 allowed attackers to perform an out-of-bounds memory read by convincing users to install a specially crafted malicious Chrome Extension.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6151

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to read memory out of bounds, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or further system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6151

DevTools in Google Chrome had a vulnerability that could be exploited by an attacker to perform an out-of-bounds memory read.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability was due to a bad cast in DevTools, allowing an attacker to exploit out-of-bounds memory read.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected systems include Windows, Linux, Mac, and Chrome OS running Google Chrome versions prior to 66.0.3359.117.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by convincing users to install a specially crafted Chrome Extension that performs malicious actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 66.0.3359.117 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid installing extensions from untrusted sources. Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly update software and extensions to the latest versions.
Educate users about the risks of installing unverified or suspicious extensions.
Implement security measures to detect and prevent malicious extensions.
Monitor and analyze extension behavior for any unusual activities. Patch and Updates
Google released a patch in version 66.0.3359.117 to address this vulnerability.