CVE-2019-5796 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2019-5796, a data race vulnerability in Google Chrome prior to 73.0.3683.75, allowing remote attackers to exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. Find mitigation steps and updates here.
Google Chrome prior to version 73.0.3683.75 was affected by a data race vulnerability in the guest view extensions, allowing a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption through a malicious HTML page.
Understanding CVE-2019-5796
Before version 73.0.3683.75, an information conflict in the guest view extensions of Google Chrome created the possibility for a remote attacker to exploit a disturbance in the memory allocation through a carefully designed HTML page.
What is CVE-2019-5796?
CVE-2019-5796 is a data race vulnerability in Google Chrome that could be exploited by a remote attacker to potentially corrupt the heap by using a crafted HTML page.
The Impact of CVE-2019-5796
The vulnerability in Google Chrome could lead to heap corruption, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-5796
Google Chrome prior to version 73.0.3683.75 was susceptible to a data race vulnerability in its guest view extensions.
Vulnerability Description
A data race in the extensions guest view in Google Chrome allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Chrome
- Vendor: Google
- Versions Affected: prior to 73.0.3683.75
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability could be exploited by a remote attacker through a carefully crafted HTML page to trigger heap corruption.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2019-5796.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Google Chrome to version 73.0.3683.75 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites to reduce the risk of exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement security best practices such as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.
Patching and Updates
- Google released a stable channel update for desktop to address this vulnerability. Ensure that your Chrome browser is updated to the latest version.