CVE-2014-1745 is a use-after-free vulnerability found in the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) implementation within the Blink rendering engine used by Google Chrome versions prior to 35.0.1916.114. Specifically, this vulnerability arises from improper handling of the SVGFontFaceElement object in the core/svg/SVGFontFaceElement.cpp component. A use-after-free flaw occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior. In this case, remote attackers can craft malicious SVG content that triggers the removal of an SVGFontFaceElement object, causing the browser to access freed memory. This can result in a denial of service (browser crash) or potentially other unspecified impacts, such as arbitrary code execution, although no confirmed exploit in the wild has been reported. The vulnerability requires no privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as visiting a malicious webpage or opening a crafted SVG file. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning exploitation can occur remotely. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, indicating a high severity level, with a high impact on confidentiality (C:H), no impact on integrity (I:N), and low impact on availability (A:L). The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-399 (Resource Management Errors), highlighting the improper memory management issue. Although the vulnerability dates back to 2014 and affects older Chrome versions, it remains relevant for legacy systems or environments where outdated browsers are still in use. No official patches or exploit samples are provided in the data, but the issue was publicly disclosed and fixed in Chrome 35.0.1916.114 and later versions.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2014-1745 lies in the potential for denial of service attacks against users running vulnerable versions of Google Chrome. This could disrupt business operations, especially in sectors reliant on web-based applications and services. Although the vulnerability could theoretically lead to more severe consequences like remote code execution, no confirmed exploits have been observed, reducing immediate risk. However, organizations with legacy systems or those unable to update browsers promptly remain at risk. Confidential data confidentiality could be compromised if an advanced exploit were developed, posing risks to sensitive information handled by European enterprises. Additionally, denial of service conditions could affect availability of critical web services or internal applications accessed via Chrome. Given the widespread use of Chrome across Europe, especially in corporate and governmental environments, unpatched systems could be targeted by attackers leveraging crafted SVG content delivered via email, websites, or other vectors. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering could be used to trigger exploitation. Overall, the threat emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date browsers to protect against memory corruption vulnerabilities that could impact confidentiality and availability.

1. Immediate upgrade to the latest version of Google Chrome, as versions 35.0.1916.114 and later contain the fix for this vulnerability. 2. Implement browser update policies within organizations to ensure all endpoints receive timely security patches, minimizing exposure to legacy vulnerabilities. 3. Employ web filtering and email security solutions to block or flag potentially malicious SVG content or attachments, reducing the risk of user interaction with crafted exploits. 4. Educate users on the risks of interacting with unsolicited or suspicious web content and attachments, emphasizing caution with SVG files or links from unknown sources. 5. For environments where updating Chrome is not immediately feasible, consider restricting or sandboxing browser usage, or using alternative browsers not affected by this vulnerability. 6. Monitor network traffic for unusual patterns that may indicate attempts to deliver malicious SVG payloads. 7. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate outdated software versions across the organization.