CVE-2020-16014 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A use after free vulnerability in Google Chrome prior to 87.0.4280.66 allowed a remote attacker to potentially escape the sandbox via a crafted HTML page.

Understanding CVE-2020-16014

This CVE involves a critical security issue in Google Chrome that could lead to a sandbox escape.

What is CVE-2020-16014?

CVE-2020-16014 is a use after free vulnerability in the PPAPI of Google Chrome versions prior to 87.0.4280.66.

The Impact of CVE-2020-16014

The vulnerability could be exploited by a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process, potentially allowing them to escape the sandbox through a specially crafted HTML page.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-16014

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The use after free vulnerability in the PPAPI of Google Chrome versions before 87.0.4280.66 could be exploited by an attacker to escape the sandbox.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Versions Affected: Prior to 87.0.4280.66

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by a remote attacker who had already compromised the renderer process, enabling them to potentially perform a sandbox escape using a specifically crafted HTML page.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2020-16014, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 87.0.4280.66 or later.
Avoid visiting untrusted websites or clicking on suspicious links.
Implement security best practices to reduce the risk of compromise.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions.
Employ security tools and solutions to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe browsing habits and cybersecurity awareness.

Patching and Updates

Google has released a patch addressing this vulnerability in Chrome version 87.0.4280.66. Users are advised to update their browsers promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation.