CVE-2024-2176 Overview
CVE-2024-2176 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Federated Credential Management (FedCM) component of Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.111 and allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a crafted HTML page. Chromium classified the security severity as High. The vulnerability requires user interaction, typically by visiting a malicious or compromised website. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution within the renderer process, providing an initial foothold for further sandbox escape attempts.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can trigger heap corruption in the browser renderer through a crafted web page, enabling potential arbitrary code execution against any user running an unpatched version of Chrome.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.111
- Chromium-based browsers built on affected Chrome releases
- Fedora 40 distributions shipping affected Chromium packages
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-03-06 - CVE-2024-2176 published to NVD
- 2024-12-19 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-2176
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a use-after-free condition [CWE-416] in the FedCM implementation within Chrome. FedCM is a browser API that mediates federated identity flows between identity providers and relying parties. A use-after-free occurs when code continues to reference heap memory after that memory has been freed, allowing attackers to manipulate the contents of the reallocated region. In the context of Chrome's renderer, this typically leads to type confusion or controlled-pointer dereferences. Attackers craft an HTML page that drives the FedCM flow into a state where a freed object is reused. The result is heap corruption with confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact within the renderer sandbox.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper object lifetime management within FedCM-related code paths. An object referenced by the FedCM handler is released while a callback or asynchronous task still retains a pointer to it. When that stale pointer is subsequently dereferenced, the attacker can influence the contents of the reallocated chunk.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires a victim to navigate to an attacker-controlled or compromised page that invokes the FedCM API in a specific sequence. No authentication is required. The attacker leverages JavaScript and DOM operations to manipulate object lifetimes, trigger garbage collection, and spray controlled data into freed memory. See the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for upstream tracking details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2176
Indicators of Compromise
- Chrome renderer process crashes with heap corruption signatures correlated with visits to untrusted sites that invoke FedCM
- Unexpected child processes spawned by chrome.exe or the Chromium renderer following a browsing session
- Outbound network connections to identity provider domains that do not match legitimate user authentication patterns
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Chrome installations across managed endpoints and flag any build older than 122.0.6261.111
- Monitor browser telemetry for renderer crash reports referencing FedCM modules
- Correlate web proxy logs with sites invoking the FedCM API from unknown or low-reputation domains
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable enterprise reporting in Chrome to surface crash and exploit reproduction events to a centralized SIEM
- Track process lineage from browser binaries to detect anomalous child process creation indicative of sandbox escape attempts
- Alert on memory protection violations and exploit mitigation events generated by EDR sensors on user endpoints
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2176
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 122.0.6261.111 or later across all managed endpoints
- Apply the corresponding Fedora package update for affected Chromium builds as described in the Fedora Package Announcement
- Force a browser restart through endpoint management tooling to ensure the patched binary is active
Patch Information
Google released the fix in the Chrome stable channel update for desktop, version 122.0.6261.111. Details are documented in the Google Chrome Release Update. Fedora 40 users should install the updated Chromium package distributed through standard repositories.
Workarounds
- Disable the FedCM API via enterprise policy where federated identity flows are not in use
- Restrict access to untrusted websites using web filtering or DNS-based controls until patching is complete
- Enforce Chrome auto-update policies through Group Policy or MDM to prevent users from running outdated builds
# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version
# Fedora package update command
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh chromium
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
