CVE-2024-3171: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2024-3171 Overview

CVE-2024-3171 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the Accessibility component of Google Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.57. A remote attacker who convinces a user to perform specific user interface (UI) gestures can trigger heap corruption in the browser process. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution within the renderer or accessibility subsystem context. Google addressed the issue in the Stable channel update for desktop published in February 2024.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can achieve heap corruption and potential code execution by luring users to a malicious page and prompting specific UI interactions.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 122.0.6261.57 on desktop platforms
Chromium-based browsers consuming the affected Accessibility component
Embedded applications shipping vulnerable Chromium builds

Discovery Timeline

2024-02-20 - Google releases Stable channel update for desktop containing the fix
2024-07-16 - CVE-2024-3171 published to NVD
2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-3171

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw resides in Chrome's Accessibility subsystem, which exposes the browser's internal node tree to assistive technologies. A use-after-free occurs when code continues to reference a heap object after it has been deallocated. In this case, specific UI gestures cause the Accessibility component to access a freed object, producing heap corruption that an attacker can shape into a controlled memory primitive.

Exploitation requires user interaction, narrowing the attack to scenarios where a victim visits an attacker-controlled page and performs the triggering gestures. The network attack surface and ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability make this a high-impact browser flaw. Chrome's sandbox limits direct system compromise, but chained sandbox escapes have historically converted similar bugs into full code execution.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifetime management of accessibility tree objects. When a UI event handler releases an accessibility node while another code path retains a raw pointer or reference to it, subsequent access dereferences freed memory. Reallocation of the same heap region with attacker-influenced data enables type confusion and control-flow hijacking.

Attack Vector

An attacker hosts a crafted web page that manipulates DOM structures bound to accessibility objects. The victim must interact with specific UI elements to trigger the vulnerable code path. Once heap corruption occurs, the attacker can pivot toward renderer compromise and attempt further exploitation. Detailed technical information is restricted in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-3171

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected Chrome renderer process crashes with heap corruption signatures in crash logs
Outbound connections from chrome.exe child processes to unknown domains following user navigation
Anomalous spawning of child processes from Chrome renderer following web page visits

Detection Strategies

Inventory Chrome installations and flag any build below 122.0.6261.57 across managed endpoints
Hunt for renderer crashes referencing accessibility (content::BrowserAccessibility) frames in Windows Error Reporting or crashpad artifacts
Correlate browsing telemetry with process injection or unusual memory allocation events in the Chrome process tree

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward browser process telemetry, crash dumps, and child-process creation events to a centralized analytics platform
Alert on Chrome processes loading unsigned modules or making suspicious outbound connections shortly after navigation
Track patch compliance for Chrome and Chromium-based browsers through endpoint management tooling

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-3171

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 122.0.6261.57 or later on all desktop endpoints
Restart browsers after patching to ensure the vulnerable code is unloaded from memory
Update Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) to versions incorporating the upstream fix

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Stable channel update for desktop on February 20, 2024. Refer to the Google Chrome Update Blog for the official advisory. The patch corrects object lifetime handling in the Accessibility component to prevent the use-after-free condition.

Workarounds

Enforce automatic browser updates through enterprise policy until all endpoints reach the fixed version
Restrict access to untrusted websites using web filtering or browser isolation where patching is delayed
Disable accessibility integrations on systems that do not require them to reduce exposure to the vulnerable code path

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Windows endpoints
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv

# Verify installed Chrome version on macOS or Linux
google-chrome --version