CVE-2024-1938: Google Chrome V8 Type Confusion RCE Flaw

CVE-2024-1938 Overview

CVE-2024-1938 is a type confusion vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.94. A remote attacker can exploit this flaw by serving a crafted HTML page, leading to object corruption inside the renderer process. Successful exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution within the sandboxed renderer and provides a foothold for further sandbox escape research. The Chromium project rated this issue High severity, and Google addressed it in the Stable channel update released on February 27, 2024. The flaw is classified as CWE-843: Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type.

Critical Impact

A single visit to a malicious or compromised web page can trigger object corruption in V8, enabling remote code execution in the Chrome renderer process.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.94
• Fedora 38, 39, and 40 distributions shipping affected Chromium builds
• Chromium-based browsers consuming the V8 engine before the fixed release

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-02-29 - CVE-2024-1938 published to the National Vulnerability Database
• 2024-12-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-1938

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a type confusion issue in V8, the JavaScript and WebAssembly engine that powers Chrome. Type confusion occurs when code allocates or initializes a resource as one type but later accesses it as a different, incompatible type. In V8, this class of bug typically arises in the optimizing compiler (TurboFan) or in inline caches that specialize on object shapes (hidden classes/maps).

When V8 misinterprets the type of a JavaScript object, it can read or write memory using the layout of an unrelated type. Attackers leverage this primitive to corrupt object metadata such as element kinds, map pointers, or length fields. The resulting confused state yields arbitrary read and write capabilities inside the renderer address space.

The CVSS vector indicates that exploitation requires user interaction, namely loading attacker-controlled web content. The renderer process is sandboxed, but a V8 compromise is a common first stage in chained exploits.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper type validation within V8 when handling JavaScript objects. Specific technical details are tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker entry 324596281, which remains restricted pending broader patch adoption. The defect maps to [CWE-843], where an object is operated on under assumptions that do not match its real runtime type.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is performed remotely over the network. An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page containing JavaScript designed to trigger the type confusion path in V8. When a user visits the page using a vulnerable Chrome build, the engine corrupts object state during execution.

From that primitive, an attacker can build arbitrary read/write inside the renderer, hijack control flow, and execute shellcode in the renderer process. Pairing the bug with a separate sandbox escape would extend impact to the host operating system. No authentication is required, and the attack succeeds with a single page load.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available for CVE-2024-1938, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Google Chrome Stable channel update for the vendor announcement.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-1938

Indicators of Compromise

• Chrome processes (chrome.exe, chrome) spawning unexpected child processes such as command interpreters or scripting hosts shortly after browsing activity.
• Renderer process crashes with access violation signatures in V8 modules referenced in Windows Error Reporting or Linux core dumps.
• Outbound network connections from renderer processes to low-reputation domains immediately after a page load.
• Browser telemetry showing users running Chrome builds older than 122.0.6261.94 against current inventory.

Detection Strategies

• Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag any host running a build below 122.0.6261.94.
• Hunt for anomalous parent-child process relationships originating from Chrome renderer processes, which typically should not launch shells or LOLBins.
• Correlate web proxy logs with endpoint telemetry to identify users who visited unknown domains followed by renderer instability.
• Monitor for new persistence artifacts created in user-writable paths within minutes of browser activity.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable browser version reporting through enterprise management tools such as Chrome Browser Cloud Management.
• Forward endpoint process telemetry and DNS logs to a centralized analytics platform for cross-host correlation.
• Alert on renderer crashes that include v8 symbols in the faulting module stack.
• Track newly observed domains delivering JavaScript-heavy payloads to corporate users.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-1938

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 122.0.6261.94 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
• Apply the corresponding Fedora chromium updates referenced in the Fedora package announcement.
• Restart Chrome on every managed host to ensure the patched binary is loaded into memory.
• Verify that Chromium-based third-party browsers in the environment have ingested the upstream V8 fix.

Patch Information

Google fixed CVE-2024-1938 in Chrome Stable channel 122.0.6261.94/.95 for Windows and macOS and 122.0.6261.94 for Linux. The release notes are published in the Stable Channel Update for Desktop. Fedora users should install the updated chromium packages distributed through the Fedora updates system.

Workarounds

• Enforce enterprise policies that block execution of Chrome builds older than 122.0.6261.94 using endpoint management tooling.
• Restrict browsing to trusted sites through web proxy categorization until patches are deployed.
• Disable JavaScript on untrusted origins via Chrome's DefaultJavaScriptSetting policy for high-risk user groups as a temporary measure.
• Encourage users to avoid clicking links from untrusted sources and to keep Chrome closed when not in use, allowing the auto-update to apply.

# Configuration example: verify Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version

# Force update on Fedora systems
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh chromium

# Enterprise policy snippet (Linux JSON policy at /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/)
{
  "DefaultJavaScriptSetting": 2,
  "URLAllowlist": ["https://*.corp.example.com"]
}