CVE-2023-0698 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Google Chrome versions prior to 110.0.5481.77, specifically within the WebRTC component. This vulnerability is classified as an out-of-bounds read (CWE-125), which occurs when the software reads data outside the boundaries of allocated memory. In this case, a remote attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious HTML page that triggers the out-of-bounds read in the WebRTC implementation. WebRTC is a real-time communication protocol used for peer-to-peer audio, video, and data sharing directly between browsers without requiring plugins. The vulnerability allows an attacker to perform an out-of-bounds memory read remotely without requiring any privileges or authentication, but it does require user interaction in the form of visiting or interacting with the crafted webpage. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, indicating a high severity level, with impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability could potentially lead to information disclosure, memory corruption, or application crashes, which might be leveraged for further exploitation such as remote code execution or sandbox escape, although no known exploits in the wild have been reported at the time of publication. The vulnerability affects all Chrome users running versions before the fixed release, and since Chrome is widely used across platforms, the attack surface is significant. The lack of a patch link in the provided data suggests that users should upgrade to at least version 110.0.5481.77 or later where the issue is resolved.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-0698 could be substantial due to the widespread use of Google Chrome as the default or preferred browser in corporate and public sectors. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, disruption of services, or compromise of user systems, which in turn could affect business operations, data privacy compliance (e.g., GDPR), and trust. Organizations relying on WebRTC for internal communications or customer-facing applications may face increased risk, especially if employees or users access untrusted websites. The vulnerability's ability to be triggered remotely with minimal prerequisites increases the risk of drive-by attacks or targeted phishing campaigns. Given the high confidentiality and integrity impact, attackers could potentially extract sensitive memory contents or manipulate browser behavior, leading to further compromise within corporate networks. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits over time. European organizations must consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments, particularly those in sectors with high regulatory requirements or critical infrastructure.

To mitigate CVE-2023-0698 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update all Google Chrome installations to version 110.0.5481.77 or later, ensuring that automated update mechanisms are functioning correctly. 2) Implement network-level protections such as web filtering and URL reputation services to block access to known malicious or untrusted websites that could host crafted HTML pages exploiting this vulnerability. 3) Educate users about the risks of interacting with suspicious links or websites, emphasizing caution with unsolicited emails or messages containing links. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring anomalous browser behavior or memory access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) For organizations using WebRTC-based applications internally, consider temporarily disabling or restricting WebRTC functionality via browser policies or group policies until patches are applied. 6) Regularly audit and monitor browser versions and patch compliance across all endpoints to ensure timely remediation. 7) Coordinate with incident response teams to prepare for potential exploitation scenarios and establish monitoring for indicators of compromise related to browser memory exploits.