CVE-2024-2883: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2024-2883 Overview

CVE-2024-2883 is a use-after-free vulnerability in ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine), the graphics abstraction layer used by Google Chrome to translate OpenGL ES API calls to the underlying graphics driver. The flaw affects Google Chrome versions prior to 123.0.6312.86 and allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a crafted HTML page. Chromium classifies the security severity as Critical. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-416] and impacts Chrome on multiple platforms, including Fedora Linux distributions that ship Chromium-based packages.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation can lead to heap corruption and potential arbitrary code execution within the renderer process when a victim visits a malicious web page.

Affected Products

Google Chrome prior to 123.0.6312.86
Fedora 38, 39, and 40 (Chromium packages)
Any Chromium-based browser embedding the vulnerable ANGLE component

Discovery Timeline

2024-03-26 - CVE-2024-2883 published to NVD
2025-03-14 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-2883

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in ANGLE, the component Chrome uses to translate WebGL and OpenGL ES calls into native graphics API calls such as Direct3D, Metal, or Vulkan. A use-after-free condition occurs when ANGLE references a memory object after it has been freed, allowing an attacker to manipulate the contents of the freed memory region. Because ANGLE processes attacker-influenced data through WebGL contexts, a crafted HTML page can trigger the dangling reference and corrupt the heap. Heap corruption in a renderer process can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution within the Chrome sandbox, often serving as the first stage of a multi-bug exploit chain.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management within ANGLE [CWE-416]. A graphics resource is freed while another code path retains a pointer to it. When that pointer is subsequently dereferenced, the freed slab can already contain attacker-controlled data, enabling type confusion, function pointer overwrites, or controlled writes into adjacent heap chunks.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires user interaction: the victim must visit a malicious or compromised web page that loads JavaScript and WebGL content designed to trigger the freed-object dereference. No authentication is required, and the attack is delivered over the network. The vulnerability is contained in the renderer process, so a sandbox escape would typically be chained for full system compromise.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been released. Technical details about the issue are restricted in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry until a majority of users have updated.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2883

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome renderer process crashes referencing ANGLE modules (libGLESv2.dll, libEGL.dll, or platform equivalents) in crash dumps.
Outbound connections from browser processes to unfamiliar domains immediately following a renderer crash or relaunch.
Unexpected child processes spawned by chrome.exe after a WebGL-heavy page load.

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome and Chromium-derived browser versions across the fleet and flag any build older than 123.0.6312.86.
Correlate browser crash telemetry with web proxy logs to identify URLs that consistently destabilize the renderer.
Monitor for post-exploitation behaviors such as renderer-spawned shells, LOLBin execution, or credential access following web browsing activity.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward browser crash and Watson reports to a centralized SIEM for triage.
Alert on Chrome processes performing unusual file system writes outside of standard profile and cache directories.
Track patch compliance for Chrome and Fedora chromium packages using vulnerability management tooling.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2883

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 123.0.6312.86 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
Apply Fedora updates for affected Chromium packages on Fedora 38, 39, and 40 hosts via dnf update.
Restart browser processes after patching to ensure the vulnerable ANGLE binary is unloaded from memory.

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome Stable channel update announced on March 26, 2024. See the Chrome Blog Update for release details. Fedora users should reference the corresponding Fedora Package Announcement for distribution-specific package versions.

Workarounds

Disable WebGL in Chrome via enterprise policy by setting WebGLEnabled to false until patching is complete.
Enforce Chrome auto-update through group policy or MDM to reduce time-to-patch on future ANGLE issues.
Restrict browsing to trusted sites using URL allow-listing for high-risk user populations.

bash

# Verify Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version

# Update Chromium on Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh chromium

# Enterprise policy snippet (Linux JSON policy) to disable WebGL
cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/disable_webgl.json
{
  "WebGLEnabled": false
}
EOF