CVE-2024-2176: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2024-2176 Overview

CVE-2024-2176 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Federated Credential Management (FedCM) API component of Google Chrome prior to version 122.0.6261.111. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page, which could lead to arbitrary code execution or browser compromise.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit heap corruption through specially crafted web pages, potentially achieving code execution within the browser context. This vulnerability requires user interaction but can be exploited over the network.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.111
• Fedora Project Fedora 40 (packages using vulnerable Chromium versions)
• Chromium-based browsers incorporating the vulnerable FedCM component

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

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free), a memory corruption vulnerability that occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been freed. In the context of Google Chrome's FedCM API, this flaw exists in how the browser handles federated credential management operations.

The FedCM API is designed to facilitate privacy-preserving federated identity flows, allowing users to log into websites using identity provider accounts without relying on third-party cookies. The use-after-free condition occurs when certain objects within the FedCM implementation are deallocated but subsequently accessed, leading to heap corruption.

When triggered, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to corrupt heap memory in a controlled manner. Successful exploitation could result in arbitrary code execution within the Chrome renderer process sandbox, information disclosure, or denial of service. While the renderer sandbox provides some containment, heap corruption vulnerabilities of this nature remain serious security concerns.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in improper memory lifecycle management within the FedCM component. When processing federated credential requests or responses, certain object references are not properly invalidated after their associated memory has been freed. This creates a dangling pointer scenario where subsequent operations attempt to access or manipulate memory that is no longer valid.

Use-after-free vulnerabilities in browser components are particularly concerning because they can be triggered remotely through malicious web content, requiring only that a victim navigate to an attacker-controlled page.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2024-2176 is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must craft a malicious HTML page containing JavaScript that triggers the vulnerable code path in the FedCM implementation. The exploitation flow typically involves:

1. The victim visits an attacker-controlled or compromised website
2. The malicious page initiates specific FedCM API calls designed to trigger the use-after-free condition
3. The attacker manipulates heap layout through carefully timed memory allocations
4. Upon triggering the vulnerability, freed memory is accessed, potentially allowing heap corruption exploitation

The vulnerability does not require special privileges and can be exploited against any user running an unpatched version of Chrome or Chromium-based browsers.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2176

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected Chrome renderer process crashes or instability when visiting unfamiliar websites
• Memory access violations or heap corruption errors in browser crash logs
• Anomalous FedCM API activity patterns in browser developer tools
• Signs of code execution or unusual child process spawning from Chrome

Detection Strategies

• Monitor endpoint systems for Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.111
• Implement browser version compliance policies to identify vulnerable installations
• Deploy endpoint detection rules for unusual browser memory corruption patterns
• Review web proxy logs for access to known malicious domains serving exploit pages

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure SentinelOne agents to detect and alert on browser exploitation attempts
• Enable Chrome's built-in crash reporting to identify potential exploitation attempts
• Monitor network traffic for suspicious federated identity flows from untrusted origins
• Implement browser isolation solutions for high-risk browsing scenarios

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2176

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 122.0.6261.111 or later immediately
• Enable automatic updates for Chrome and all Chromium-based browsers
• Apply Fedora security updates via dnf update chromium for affected Fedora 40 systems
• Consider temporarily restricting access to untrusted websites until patching is complete

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 122.0.6261.111. The fix was released as part of the stable channel update for desktop. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this update across all managed endpoints.

For detailed patch information, refer to the Google Chrome Stable Update announcement. Additional technical details may be available in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Fedora users should apply updates as described in the Fedora Package Announcement.

Workarounds

• Implement browser isolation for untrusted web content until patches can be applied
• Consider using site isolation features with stricter process separation
• Temporarily disable or restrict FedCM API usage if feasible for your environment
• Deploy network-level controls to block access to known malicious domains

# Verify Chrome version on Linux/macOS
google-chrome --version

# Update Chrome on Fedora 40
sudo dnf update chromium

# Check for available Chrome updates on enterprise managed systems
# Use Group Policy or Chrome Enterprise management tools