In October 2024, Google released an advisory for a significant vulnerability, designated CVE-2024-9954, affecting its Chrome browser. This high-severity flaw, a use-after-free vulnerability within the AI components of Chrome, could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause crashes by exploiting heap memory corruption.
Understanding Use-After-Free Vulnerabilities
Use-after-free (UAF) vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use memory that has already been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior. In web browsers, these flaws can be especially dangerous, as they can allow attackers to manipulate memory to execute malicious code. In Chrome’s case, this vulnerability occurs within its AI components, which means the flaw resides in an area handling significant data, including potentially sensitive user information.
When a use-after-free (UAF) condition is exploited, attackers can create sophisticated exploits that leads to significant consequences. For instance, accessing freed memory can result in segmentation faults, causing the browser to crash. More critically, by manipulating the heap, attackers can inject and execute arbitrary malicious payloads, gaining control over the system. In extreme cases, this heap manipulation could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the browser environment or even affect the underlying operating system, posing severe security risks to users.
This particular vulnerability impacts Chrome versions prior to 130.0.6723.58. Attackers can exploit it remotely by convincing a user to visit a specially crafted HTML page. Upon visiting, the crafted content exploits the UAF condition, corrupting the heap and potentially leading to severe consequences such as arbitrary code execution.
How CVE-2024-9954 Works
The vulnerability lies in the Chrome AI component, which uses memory extensively to handle processing tasks and manage interactions with web pages. During execution, it may release memory blocks that are no longer needed. However, due to the UAF flaw, some pointers still reference this freed memory, leaving it vulnerable to external manipulation. Attackers exploit this by using crafted HTML payloads to access the freed memory, setting the stage for heap corruption and manipulation.
When attackers inject specific payloads into this corrupted heap, they can gain control over the memory, potentially leading to remote code execution or causing the browser to crash. The vulnerability’s simplicity increases its severity. It requires no elevated privileges and can be activated simply by a user visiting a malicious site. With a CVSS score of 8.8, the flaw underscores the importance of timely updates and proactive measures.
How to Protect Yourself: Google’s Patch and Security Best Practices
Google addressed this vulnerability by releasing a patch on October 15, 2024, in Chrome version 130.0.6723.58. Here’s a list of recommended actions for cybersecurity teams and individual users to mitigate the risk:
- Ensure all devices use Chrome version 130.0.6723.58 or newer to prevent this exploit. Enable auto-updates to stay protected from future vulnerabilities.
- In organizational settings, consider implementing browser isolation, which segregates web content from local systems, minimizing the impact of browser-based vulnerabilities.
- Alert users about the risks associated with visiting unknown or untrusted websites. Often, awareness is the first line of defense against browser-based attacks.
- Utilize security tools such as WAFs and EDR to detect and block malicious activity targeting browser vulnerabilities.
Browser vulnerabilities like Chrome AI are among the most exploited due to the vast number of users and the simplicity of remote attacks. To stay secure, ensure your software is up-to-date and be proactive in monitoring and managing potential risks.
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