CVE-2023-3079: Google Chrome V8 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2023-3079 Overview

CVE-2023-3079 is a type confusion vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome prior to version 114.0.5735.110. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page, leading to arbitrary code execution within the browser context. The flaw exists in how V8 handles type information during JavaScript execution, where incorrect type assumptions can lead to memory corruption.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and has been added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Organizations must prioritize patching as attackers can achieve remote code execution by simply convincing a user to visit a malicious webpage.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome (versions prior to 114.0.5735.110)
• Debian Linux 11.0 and 12.0
• Fedora 37 and 38
• Couchbase Server (including version 7.2.0)
• Chromium-based browsers on Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, and Linux

Discovery Timeline

• 2023-06-05 - CVE-2023-3079 published to NVD
• 2025-10-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-3079

Vulnerability Analysis

This type confusion vulnerability (CWE-843) occurs in Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine, which is responsible for compiling and executing JavaScript code. Type confusion vulnerabilities arise when code allocates or initializes a resource using one type but later accesses it using an incompatible type. In V8's context, this can occur during JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation when the engine makes incorrect assumptions about object types.

When V8 misidentifies an object's type, subsequent operations may read or write memory using the wrong size or structure, corrupting adjacent heap memory. This corruption can be leveraged by attackers to achieve arbitrary read/write primitives, ultimately enabling code execution outside the JavaScript sandbox.

The vulnerability requires user interaction—specifically, a victim must navigate to a malicious webpage containing crafted JavaScript. Once triggered, the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process.

Root Cause

The root cause is a type confusion error in V8's type tracking mechanism. During JavaScript execution, V8 maintains type information to optimize code performance. A flaw in this type inference logic allows specially crafted JavaScript to create conditions where V8 incorrectly identifies an object's type. When the engine subsequently accesses the object using the wrong type information, it causes heap memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious HTML page containing JavaScript designed to trigger the type confusion in V8. The attack flow typically involves:

1. The victim visits a malicious or compromised website controlled by the attacker
2. The crafted JavaScript executes, triggering the type confusion in V8
3. The type confusion leads to heap corruption
4. The attacker leverages the corruption to achieve arbitrary code execution
5. In sophisticated attacks, this can be chained with sandbox escape techniques for full system compromise

Technical details and proof-of-concept exploits demonstrating both the type confusion and sandbox escape techniques are available through Packet Storm Type Confusion Exploit and Packet Storm Sandbox Escape Exploit.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-3079

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual Chrome renderer process crashes or memory access violations
• Chrome crash reports indicating V8 heap corruption or type-related errors
• Suspicious JavaScript execution patterns in browser logs
• Detection of known exploit payloads in network traffic destined to Chrome browsers

Detection Strategies

• Monitor endpoint browser versions and alert on any Chrome installations below 114.0.5735.110
• Deploy network-based detection for known exploit signatures associated with CVE-2023-3079
• Implement browser process monitoring to detect anomalous memory operations
• Enable Chrome's Enhanced Safe Browsing feature to detect and block malicious pages

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure SIEM rules to correlate Chrome crash events with network connections to suspicious domains
• Monitor for exploitation attempts using threat intelligence feeds that include CVE-2023-3079 indicators
• Enable endpoint detection and response (EDR) monitoring for browser process behavior anomalies
• Review proxy and firewall logs for connections to domains known to host CVE-2023-3079 exploits

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-3079

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 114.0.5735.110 or later immediately across all endpoints
• Enable automatic Chrome updates to ensure timely deployment of security patches
• For Chromium-based browsers and applications, verify they have incorporated the patched V8 engine
• Implement application allowlisting to restrict execution of untrusted applications
• Consider temporarily restricting JavaScript execution on untrusted sites via browser policies

Patch Information

Google has released a security update addressing this vulnerability in Chrome version 114.0.5735.110. The official patch information is available in the Chrome Stable Channel Update. Additional security advisories have been published by affected distributions:

• Debian Security Advisory DSA-5420
• Fedora Package Announcements
• Gentoo GLSA 202311-11
• Couchbase Security Alerts

Workarounds

• Disable JavaScript in Chrome via chrome://settings/content/javascript for untrusted sites (impacts functionality)
• Use browser isolation technology to contain potential exploits
• Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if browser compromise occurs
• Deploy web content filtering to block access to known malicious domains

# Chrome Enterprise policy to enforce minimum version requirements
# Create/edit the policy file on Linux systems
cat > /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/version_policy.json << EOF
{
  "MinimumChromeVersionEnforced": "114.0.5735.110"
}
EOF

# Verify Chrome version from command line
google-chrome --version
# Should output: Google Chrome 114.0.5735.110 or higher