Overview

Medium
Severity
CVSS
No
Exploited ITW
Fixed
Fix Status
ImpactUse after free in Ozone
DescriptionUse after free in Ozone
ComponentOzone
Bug ClassUAF
Tracker518245882
Fix commitfc4613ff876d (chromium/src) +16/-685
CISA KEVNot listed
CreditedGoogle
Disclosed2026-06-30

Changed Functions

FunctionChangeNotes
if
chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc
modified
if
ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.cc
modified
TestDelegate
ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc
modified
if
ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc
modified

Files Changed

  • chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc
  • chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.h
  • ui/base/x/BUILD.gn
  • ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.cc
  • ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h
  • ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc
From fc4613ff876d53687b1b248723cca7b962534fe7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Tom Anderson <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:10:49 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] [Ozone/X11] Revert workaround UAF guards for GeometryCache synchronous dispatch

Now that GeometryCache::GetBoundsPx() peeks at X11 server responses
instead of calling DispatchNow(), event processing and bounds-changed
callbacks no longer execute synchronously during bounds calculation.

This change reverts the temporary WeakPtr liveness guards and unit tests
that were added to handle re-entrancy during GetBoundsPx() /
GetBoundsInPixels():
- Revert "Harden X11DesktopWindowMoveClient against synchronous destruction"
- Revert "Fix use-after-free in DesktopWindowTreeHostPlatform::CenterWindow"
- Revert "ozone/x11: Fix potential UAF in X11Window::DispatchEvent"
- Revert "Ozone: Fix UAF in X11Window::DispatchUiEvent via weak_ptr tracking"
- Revert "Fix UAF in X11Window::SetOverrideRedirect and BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux"
- Revert "[Ozone/X11] Guard against synchronous deletion in OnWindowMapped"
- Revert "ozone/x11: Fix UAF inside X11Window::GetBoundsInPixels()"

Bug: 524439798, 524824288, 532966375, 524552123, 524395469, 523690961, 524825209, 518245882, 517050585, 518043597
Change-Id: I8a3a311e8ea209e16e06d1179a1fb00b915c00fb
Reviewed-on: https://chromium-review.googlesource.com/c/chromium/src/+/8129120
Reviewed-by: Lei Zhang <[email protected]>
Commit-Queue: Thomas Anderson <[email protected]>
Cr-Commit-Position: refs/heads/main@{#1665631}
---

diff --git a/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc b/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc
index bc29ed10..4480eb3 100644
--- a/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc
+++ b/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc
@@ -138,11 +138,7 @@
         browser_widget_->tab_drag_kind() == TabDragKind::kAllTabs;
     bool is_dragging_window = tab_drag_kind == TabDragKind::kAllTabs;
     if (is_dragging_window != was_dragging_window) {
-      auto weak_this = weak_factory_.GetWeakPtr();
       x11_extension->SetOverrideRedirect(is_dragging_window);
-      if (!weak_this) {
-        return;
-      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.h b/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.h
index 97b931d..b4a7275b 100644
--- a/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.h
+++ b/chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.h
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #define CHROME_BROWSER_UI_VIEWS_FRAME_BROWSER_DESKTOP_WINDOW_TREE_HOST_LINUX_H_
 
 #include "base/memory/raw_ptr.h"
-#include "base/memory/weak_ptr.h"
 #include "build/build_config.h"
 #include "build/config/linux/dbus/buildflags.h"
 #include "chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host.h"
@@ -110,8 +109,6 @@
 
   base::ScopedObservation<ui::LinuxUi, ui::DeviceScaleFactorObserver>
       scale_observation_{this};
-
-  base::WeakPtrFactory<BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux> weak_factory_{this};
 };
 
 #endif  // CHROME_BROWSER_UI_VIEWS_FRAME_BROWSER_DESKTOP_WINDOW_TREE_HOST_LINUX_H_
diff --git a/ui/base/x/BUILD.gn b/ui/base/x/BUILD.gn
index dac89b38..eefb196a 100644
--- a/ui/base/x/BUILD.gn
+++ b/ui/base/x/BUILD.gn
@@ -165,7 +165,6 @@
     "selection_utils_unittest.cc",
     "x11_cursor_factory_unittest.cc",
     "x11_cursor_loader_unittest.cc",
-    "x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc",
     "x11_display_util_unittest.cc",
     "x11_whole_screen_move_loop_unittest.cc",
   ]
diff --git a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.cc b/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.cc
index 21f93a1..e17db07 100644
--- a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.cc
+++ b/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.cc
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h"
 
+#include "base/check.h"
 #include "base/functional/callback_helpers.h"
 #include "ui/base/x/x11_util.h"
 #include "ui/events/event.h"
@@ -14,23 +15,17 @@
 X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::Delegate::~Delegate() = default;
 
 X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::X11DesktopWindowMoveClient(Delegate* window)
-    : window_(window ? window->AsWeakPtr() : nullptr) {}
+    : window_(window) {
+  CHECK(window_);
+}
 
 X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::~X11DesktopWindowMoveClient() = default;
 
 void X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::OnMouseMovement(const gfx::Point& screen_point,
                                                  int flags,
                                                  base::TimeTicks event_time) {
-  if (!window_) {
-    return;
-  }
   gfx::Point system_loc = screen_point - window_offset_;
-  base::WeakPtr<X11DesktopWindowMoveClient> alive(weak_factory_.GetWeakPtr());
-  const gfx::Size size = window_->GetSize();
-  if (!alive || !window_) {
-    return;
-  }
-  window_->SetBoundsOnMove(gfx::Rect(system_loc, size));
+  window_->SetBoundsOnMove(gfx::Rect(system_loc, window_->GetSize()));
 }
 
 void X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::OnMouseReleased() {
diff --git a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h b/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h
index 8b50668..f95cf2c 100644
--- a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h
+++ b/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #define UI_BASE_X_X11_DESKTOP_WINDOW_MOVE_CLIENT_H_
 
 #include "base/component_export.h"
-#include "base/memory/weak_ptr.h"
+#include "base/memory/raw_ptr.h"
 #include "ui/base/x/x11_move_loop_delegate.h"
 #include "ui/base/x/x11_whole_screen_move_loop.h"
 #include "ui/gfx/geometry/point.h"
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@
     virtual scoped_refptr<X11Cursor> GetLastCursor() = 0;
     // Returns the size part of the window bounds.
     virtual gfx::Size GetSize() = 0;
-    // Returns a weak pointer to the delegate.
-    virtual base::WeakPtr<Delegate> AsWeakPtr() = 0;
 
    protected:
     virtual ~Delegate();
@@ -55,14 +53,12 @@
 
   // We need to keep track of this so we can actually move it when reacting to
   // mouse events.
-  base::WeakPtr<Delegate> window_;
+  const raw_ptr<Delegate> window_;
 
   // Our cursor offset from the top left window origin when the drag
   // started. Used to calculate the window's new bounds relative to the current
   // location of the cursor.
   gfx::Vector2d window_offset_;
-
-  base::WeakPtrFactory<X11DesktopWindowMoveClient> weak_factory_{this};
 };
 
 }  // namespace ui
diff --git a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc b/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc
deleted file mode 100644
index c4c5a11..0000000
--- a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2026 The Chromium Authors
-// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
-// found in the LICENSE file.
-
-#include "ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h"
-
-#include <memory>
-
-#include "base/memory/raw_ptr.h"
-#include "base/memory/weak_ptr.h"
-#include "base/time/time.h"
-#include "testing/gtest/include/gtest/gtest.h"
-#include "ui/gfx/geometry/point.h"
-#include "ui/gfx/geometry/rect.h"
-#include "ui/gfx/geometry/size.h"
-
-namespace ui {
-
-namespace {
-
-class TestDelegate : public X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::Delegate {
- public:
-  TestDelegate() = default;
-  ~TestDelegate() override = default;
-
-  void SetBoundsOnMove(const gfx::Rect& requested_bounds) override {
-    set_bounds_on_move_called_ = true;
-  }
-
-  scoped_refptr<X11Cursor> GetLastCursor() override {
-    return nullptr;
-  }
-
-  gfx::Size GetSize() override {
-    get_size_called_ = true;
-    if (destroy_on_get_size_) {
-      // Synchronously destroy the client (which models the destruction flow in
-      // production when X11Window is destroyed and in turn deletes its move client).
-      move_client_holder_->reset();
Loading diff…

Regression Test / PoC

shipped with the fix
diff --git a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc b/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc
deleted file mode 100644
index c4c5a11..0000000
--- a/ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client_unittest.cc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2026 The Chromium Authors
-// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
-// found in the LICENSE file.
-
-#include "ui/base/x/x11_desktop_window_move_client.h"
-
-#include <memory>
-
-#include "base/memory/raw_ptr.h"
-#include "base/memory/weak_ptr.h"
-#include "base/time/time.h"
-#include "testing/gtest/include/gtest/gtest.h"
-#include "ui/gfx/geometry/point.h"
-#include "ui/gfx/geometry/rect.h"
-#include "ui/gfx/geometry/size.h"
-
-namespace ui {
-
-namespace {
-
-class TestDelegate : public X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::Delegate {
- public:
-  TestDelegate() = default;
-  ~TestDelegate() override = default;
-
-  void SetBoundsOnMove(const gfx::Rect& requested_bounds) override {
-    set_bounds_on_move_called_ = true;
-  }
-
-  scoped_refptr<X11Cursor> GetLastCursor() override {
-    return nullptr;
-  }
-
-  gfx::Size GetSize() override {
-    get_size_called_ = true;
-    if (destroy_on_get_size_) {
-      // Synchronously destroy the client (which models the destruction flow in
-      // production when X11Window is destroyed and in turn deletes its move client).
-      move_client_holder_->reset();
-    }
-    return gfx::Size(100, 100);
-  }
-
-  base::WeakPtr<X11DesktopWindowMoveClient::Delegate> AsWeakPtr() override {
-    return weak_ptr_factory_.GetWeakPtr();
-  }
-
-  void Init(std::unique_ptr<X11DesktopWindowMoveClient>* holder,
-            bool destroy_on_get_size) {
-    move_client_holder_ = holder;
-    destroy_on_get_size_ = destroy_on_get_size;
-  }
-
-  bool get_size_called() const { return get_size_called_; }
-  bool set_bounds_on_move_called() const { return set_bounds_on_move_called_; }
-
- private:
-  raw_ptr<std::unique_ptr<X11DesktopWindowMoveClient>> move_client_holder_ = nullptr;
-  bool destroy_on_get_size_ = false;
-  bool get_size_called_ = false;
-  bool set_bounds_on_move_called_ = false;
-
-  base::WeakPtrFactory<TestDelegate> weak_ptr_factory_{this};
-};
-
-}  // namespace
-
-TEST(X11DesktopWindowMoveClientTest, SafeOnMouseMovementWithDestruction) {
-  TestDelegate delegate;
-  auto move_client = std::make_unique<X11DesktopWindowMoveClient>(&delegate);
-  delegate.Init(&move_client, /*destroy_on_get_size=*/true);
-
-  // Trigger OnMouseMovement. Inside GetSize(), the delegate will destroy
-  // `move_client` synchronously.
-  move_client->OnMouseMovement(gfx::Point(10, 10), 0, base::TimeTicks());
-
-  // Confirm that the move client was indeed destroyed.
-  EXPECT_FALSE(move_client);
-  EXPECT_TRUE(delegate.get_size_called());
-  // SetBoundsOnMove should NOT have been called, as the delegate and the client
-  // are destroyed/invalidated.
-  EXPECT_FALSE(delegate.set_bounds_on_move_called());
-}
-
-TEST(X11DesktopWindowMoveClientTest, OnMouseMovementWithoutDestruction) {
-  TestDelegate delegate;
-  auto move_client = std::make_unique<X11DesktopWindowMoveClient>(&delegate);
-  delegate.Init(&move_client, /*destroy_on_get_size=*/false);
-
-  move_client->OnMouseMovement(gfx::Point(10, 10), 0, base::TimeTicks());
-
-  EXPECT_TRUE(move_client);
-  EXPECT_TRUE(delegate.get_size_called());
-  EXPECT_TRUE(delegate.set_bounds_on_move_called());
-}
-
-}  // namespace ui
diff --git a/ui/ozone/platform/x11/x11_window_ozone_unittest.cc b/ui/ozone/platform/x11/x11_window_ozone_unittest.cc
index 2a5b43ef..76b1ab5 100644
--- a/ui/ozone/platform/x11/x11_window_ozone_unittest.cc
+++ b/ui/ozone/platform/x11/x11_window_ozone_unittest.cc
@@ -286,90 +286,6 @@
   gfx::Rect guessed_size_px_;
 };
 
-// Verifies that SetBoundsInPixels() is safe against the X11Window being
-// synchronously destroyed during the GetBoundsInPixels() call. This can happen
-// if GeometryCache::GetBoundsPx() processes synchronous X server replies and
-// dispatches an OnBoundsChanged event that closes the widget (e.g., as in
-// crbug.com/1068755).
-TEST_F(X11WindowOzoneTest, SetBoundsInPixelsUseAfterFreeViaGeometryCache) {
-  testing::NiceMock<MockPlatformWindowDelegate> delegate;
-  gfx::AcceleratedWidget widget;
-  constexpr gfx::Rect bounds(30, 80, 800, 600);
-  std::unique_ptr<PlatformWindow> window =
-      CreatePlatformWindow(&delegate, bounds, &widget, nullptr);
-
-  auto* connection = x11::Connection::Get();
-  auto xwindow = static_cast<x11::Window>(widget);
-
-  // Step 1: Force the X11Window's GeometryCache (and its parent chain) to
-  // become Ready and record last_notified_geometry_. This goes through the
-  // synchronous DispatchNow() path. The resulting X11Window::OnBoundsChanged
-  // sees a size change and only posts a delayed-resize task, so the delegate
-  // is not called synchronously here.
-  window->GetBoundsInPixels();
-
-  // Step 2: Create a real parent window at a non-zero offset so that after
-  // reparenting, only the absolute origin of |xwindow| changes (size stays
-  // 800x600). override_redirect avoids any WM interference.
-  x11::Window new_parent = connection->GenerateId<x11::Window>();
-  connection->CreateWindow({
-      .wid = new_parent,
-      .parent = connection->default_root(),
-      .x = 200,
-      .y = 200,
-      .width = 1000,
-      .height = 1000,
-      .c_class = x11::WindowClass::InputOnly,
-      .override_redirect = x11::Bool32(true),
-  });
-
-  // Step 3: Synthesize the ReparentNotify the X server would send for a WM
-  // reparent. GeometryCache::OnEvent replaces parent_ with a fresh un-Ready
-  // GeometryCache for |new_parent|, leaving the leaf cache's chain not Ready.
-  x11::ReparentNotifyEvent reparent{};
-  reparent.event = xwindow;
-  reparent.window = xwindow;
-  reparent.parent = new_parent;
-  reparent.x = 0;
-  reparent.y = 0;
-  x11::Event reparent_event(/*send_event=*/false, std::move(reparent));
-  connection->DispatchEvent(reparent_event);
-
-  // Step 4: Arm the delegate so that the *next* synchronous OnBoundsChanged
-  // (which will fire from inside SetBoundsInPixels → GetBoundsInPixels →
-  // GetBoundsPx → DispatchNow → OnBoundsChanged → NotifyBoundsChanged) frees
-  // the X11Window — modelling Widget::CloseNow → SetPlatformWindow(nullptr).
-  bool armed = true;
-  bool freed = false;
-  EXPECT_CALL(delegate, OnBoundsChanged(_))
-      .WillRepeatedly([&](const PlatformWindowDelegate::BoundsChange&) {
-        if (armed) {
-          armed = false;
-          freed = true;
-          // ~X11Window → PrepareForShutdown → Close → CloseXWindow →
-          // geometry_cache_.reset(). All GeometryCache weak_ptrs are
-          // invalidated, so every GetBoundsPx() frame on the stack will
-          // return {}, and SetBoundsInPixels() should guard against this
-          // deletion.
-          window.reset();
-        }
-      });
-
-  // Step 5: Call SetBoundsInPixels(). Inside, GetBoundsInPixels() recurses
-  // into the un-Ready parent cache, which processes replies synchronously via
-  // DispatchNow(). The resulting OnBoundsChanged event triggers the observer,
-  // which destroys the window. X11Window must safely return early instead
-  // of accessing freed members or the destroyed delegate.
-  PlatformWindow* raw = window.get();
-  raw->SetBoundsInPixels(gfx::Rect(40, 90, 800, 600));
-
-  // If we got here without ASAN tripping, the synchronous-free path was not
-  // exercised; surface that as a test failure rather than a silent pass.
-  EXPECT_TRUE(freed) << "delegate was never invoked synchronously";
-
-  connection->DestroyWindow({new_parent});
-}
-
 // Verifies X11Window sets fullscreen bounds in pixels when going to fullscreen.
 TEST_F(X11WindowOzoneTest, SetFullscreen) {
   constexpr gfx::Rect screen_bounds_in_px(640, 480, 1280, 720);
@@ -388,339 +304,6 @@
   window->SetFullscreen(true, display::kInvalidDisplayId);
 }
 
-// Verifies that X11Window::OnWindowMapped() does not cause a use-after-free
-// if the window is synchronously deleted during Maximize().
-//
-// The MapNotify dispatch path (Connection::DispatchEvent ->
-// EventObserver::OnEvent -> HandleEvent -> OnWindowMapped) is not covered by
-// the weak_this guard in DispatchUiEvent because MapNotify is not a
-// translatable event.
-//
-// This test sets `should_maximize_after_map_` to true, and configures the
-// delegate to synchronously delete the window upon receiving the bounds change
-// from Maximize(). It then dispatches a synthetic MapNotify event and ensures
-// the deletion is handled safely without a use-after-free.
-TEST_F(X11WindowOzoneTest, OnWindowMappedUseAfterFreeAfterMaximize) {
-  testing::NiceMock<MockPlatformWindowDelegate> delegate;
-  gfx::AcceleratedWidget widget;
-  constexpr gfx::Rect bounds(30, 80, 800, 600);
-  std::unique_ptr<PlatformWindow> window =
-      CreatePlatformWindow(&delegate, bounds, &widget, nullptr);
-
-  auto* connection = x11::Connection::Get();
-  auto xwindow = static_cast<x11::Window>(widget);
-
-  // Prime the X11Window's `GeometryCache` so the first `Maximize()` below does
-  // not itself fire a synchronous `OnBoundsChanged()`.
-  window->GetBoundsInPixels();
-
-  // Step 1: Maximize() while `!window_mapped_in_client_` -> sets
-  // `should_maximize_after_map_` = true. (The window has never been shown.)
-  window->Maximize();
-
-  // Step 2: Create a real parent window at a non-zero offset so that after
-  // a synthetic reparent, only the absolute origin of `xwindow` changes.
-  // `override_redirect` avoids any WM interference.
-  x11::Window new_parent = connection->GenerateId<x11::Window>();
-  connection->CreateWindow({
-      .wid = new_parent,
-      .parent = connection->default_root(),
-      .x = 200,
-      .y = 200,
-      .width = 1000,
-      .height = 1000,
-      .c_class = x11::WindowClass::InputOnly,
-      .override_redirect = x11::Bool32(true),
-  });
-
-  // Step 3: Synthesize a `ReparentNotify` so the leaf `GeometryCache` becomes
-  // un-ready. The next `GetBoundsInPixels()` (inside the `Maximize()` called
-  // from `OnWindowMapped()`) will block on the new parent's geometry, observe
-  // an origin change, and fire `OnBoundsChanged()` synchronously.
-  x11::ReparentNotifyEvent reparent{};
-  reparent.event = xwindow;
-  reparent.window = xwindow;
-  reparent.parent = new_parent;
-  reparent.x = 0;
-  reparent.y = 0;
-  x11::Event reparent_event(/*send_event=*/false, std::move(reparent));
-  connection->DispatchEvent(reparent_event);
-
-  // Step 4: Arm the delegate so the next synchronous `OnBoundsChanged()` frees
-  // the `X11Window` — modelling `views::Widget::CloseNow()` ->
-  // `SetPlatformWindow(nullptr)`, which is the deletion sink explicitly
-  // acknowledged by the `weak_this` guards already present in
-  // `X11Window::Maximize()`, `SetFullscreen()`, and
-  // `WindowTreeHostPlatform::OnBoundsChanged()`.
-  bool armed = true;
-  bool freed = false;
-  EXPECT_CALL(delegate, OnBoundsChanged(_))
-      .WillRepeatedly([&](const PlatformWindowDelegate::BoundsChange&) {
-        if (armed) {
-          armed = false;
-          freed = true;
-          window.reset();
-        }
-      });
-
-  // Step 5: Dispatch a synthetic `MapNotify` for this window. There is no
-  // send_event filtering on the `OnEvent` path; `IsTargetedBy()` only checks
-  // `map->window == xwindow_`.
-  //
-  // `OnEvent` -> `HandleEvent` -> `OnWindowMapped()`:
-  //   `should_maximize_after_map_` is true -> `Maximize()`
-  //     -> `GetBoundsInPixels()` -> `GeometryCache` resolves new parent
-  //     -> origin changed -> `NotifyBoundsChanged()` -> delegate frees
-  //        X11Window`
-  //     -> `Maximize()` `weak_this` guard returns early.
-  //   `OnWindowMapped()` then writes `should_maximize_after_map_ = false` and
-  //   reads `should_grab_pointer_after_map_` on the freed `this`.
-  x11::MapNotifyEvent map_notify{};
-  map_notify.event = xwindow;
-  map_notify.window = xwindow;
-  x11::Event map_event(/*send_event=*/false, std::move(map_notify));
-  connection->DispatchEvent(map_event);
-
-  EXPECT_TRUE(base::test::RunUntil([&]() {
-    connection->DispatchAll();
-    return freed;
-  })) << "delegate->OnBoundsChanged() was not invoked from "
-         "OnWindowMapped/Maximize";
... (truncated)
Loading diff…

Original Bug Report

reported by [email protected]

Potential UAF in X11Window::SetOverrideRedirect and BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux

Project Fortify, an experimental security project, has identified the following potential security issue. If you’re a feature owner CC-ed on this bug, please do your best to review these reports. Please see https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/main/docs/security/ai-generated-security-bugs-faq.md for more information.

Overview: A potential Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability exists in the Linux/X11 tab dragging path. Synchronous event dispatch during window remapping can trigger the destruction of both the X11Window and BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux objects. Subsequent execution on the unwinding call stack results in memory access on these freed objects.

Affected files:

  • ui/ozone/platform/x11/x11_window.cc
  • chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc

Estimated timestamp from git blame: 2025-03-06

Detailed Description

A potential Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability has been identified in the Linux/X11 window management code path, specifically during tab dragging under tiling window managers. The vulnerability stems from synchronous re-entrancy during geometry queries, which can destroy the window and host objects while their methods are still active on the call stack.

Note: These findings and reproduction steps are based on source-code analysis; our tooling does not currently have the capability to run code or verify a live exploit.

Vulnerability Mechanism

  1. Call Stack Entry: When a window’s tab dragging state changes, BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux::TabDraggingKindChanged is invoked, which calls x11_extension->SetOverrideRedirect(is_dragging_window) (see chrome/browser/ui/views/frame/browser_desktop_window_tree_host_linux.cc).

  2. Synchronous Mapping and Re-entrancy: X11Window::SetOverrideRedirect hides and then maps the window via Map() (see ui/ozone/platform/x11/x11_window.cc). Inside Map(), GetBoundsInPixels() is called to query size hints. This delegates to geometry_cache_->GetBoundsPx().

  3. Synchronous Event Pump: If the geometry cache is currently un-Ready (for example, following a recent window reparenting event), GeometryCache::GetBoundsPx() forces a synchronous dispatch via parent_future_.DispatchNow() (see ui/gfx/x/geometry_cache.cc). This synchronously pumps pending X server responses.

  4. Re-entrant Object Destruction: The synchronous dispatch runs the bounds change callback, notifying WindowTreeHostPlatform::OnBoundsChanged. If an observer reacts to the bounds/position change by closing the widget (e.g., detaching the last tab from the window during a drag), a sequence of synchronous destructions is triggered:

    • X11Window is destroyed via SetPlatformWindow(nullptr).
    • BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux is destroyed via host_.reset().
  5. Unwinding Use-After-Free: When the nested synchronous dispatch completes, the execution stack unwinds back to the caller frames:

    • In X11Window::SetOverrideRedirect, the code attempts to read has_pointer_grab_ and write to should_grab_pointer_after_map_ on a freed X11Window instance.
    • In BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux::TabDraggingKindChanged, the code attempts to dereference platform_window() on the freed host instance to perform a Wayland extension check, leading to a potential wild pointer dereference.

Potential Trigger Steps

To trigger this path, a tester or user would potentially perform the following actions:

  1. Run Chromium on Linux/X11 under a tiling window manager (e.g., i3 or awesome).
  2. Open a browser window containing tabs.
  3. Initiate a tab drag operation that causes the dragged tab to be detached or snapped, synchronously closing the source window while a geometry sync is pending.

Suggested Fix

To mitigate this issue, implement WeakPtr guards across the synchronous boundaries to detect object destruction and abort further execution:

  1. In X11Window::SetOverrideRedirect, check a weak reference after calling Map():
auto weak_this = weak_ptr_factory_.GetWeakPtr();
Map();
if (!weak_this) {
  return;
}
if (has_pointer_grab_) {
  should_grab_pointer_after_map_ = true;
}
  1. In BrowserDesktopWindowTreeHostLinux::TabDraggingKindChanged, verify the host’s liveness using a weak pointer check after calling SetOverrideRedirect:
auto weak_this = GetWeakPtr();
x11_extension->SetOverrideRedirect(is_dragging_window);
if (!weak_this) {
  return;
}

Evaluated with Chrome root at commit: 208ca3371d87589335b108c431b95a36d768dc47


Results so far have been promising, but there can be wrong deductions. Feel free to adjust as follows:

  • If you are familiar with the severity guidelines, you may adjust the severity.
  • If this is a false positive, and there’s no work to be done, please close as WAI.
  • If there is work to do here but not a vulnerability, please change the issue type to Task/Bug/FR.

Data from false positives will be used to improve accuracy over time. And please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have concerns or feedback on the project.

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