CVE-2024-3837: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2024-3837 Overview

CVE-2024-3837 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections) implementation of Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 124.0.6367.60. A remote attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can leverage a crafted HTML page to trigger heap corruption. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution within the affected process context.

Google's Chromium project rated the underlying issue as Medium severity, while the CVE record carries a higher CVSS score reflecting the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Critical Impact
Attackers chaining this bug with a renderer compromise can achieve heap corruption and potential code execution through a crafted HTML page delivered to the browser.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 124.0.6367.60 on desktop platforms
Fedora Linux distributions shipping affected Chromium builds
Chromium-based applications embedding the vulnerable QUIC stack

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-17 - CVE-2024-3837 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-3837

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Chrome's QUIC transport implementation. QUIC is a UDP-based, multiplexed transport protocol used by Chrome for HTTP/3 connections. The flaw is classified as a use-after-free, meaning the code references heap memory after it has been released back to the allocator.

When a freed object is reused, an attacker can place attacker-controlled data into the reclaimed memory region. Subsequent operations on the dangling pointer then operate on that crafted content. This primitive can be shaped into a write-what-where condition or used to corrupt vtables and function pointers.

Exploitation requires that the attacker already control the renderer process. From that position, the QUIC component can be driven into the unsafe state through a crafted HTML page that triggers specific network and lifecycle interactions.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management within the QUIC code path. A component releases an object while another code path retains a reference to it. Tracking details are available in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based but requires user interaction, typically loading a malicious page. The exploitation chain assumes a prior renderer compromise, after which the attacker drives QUIC into the use-after-free condition to escalate impact toward heap corruption and potential code execution.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-3837

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome browser processes crashing with heap corruption signatures or SIGSEGV faults originating in QUIC-related modules.
Outbound UDP traffic on port 443 to untrusted hosts immediately preceding renderer crashes.
Endpoint telemetry showing child renderer processes spawning unexpected helper processes after visiting an unknown site.

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Chrome versions across the fleet and flag any build prior to 124.0.6367.60.
Monitor browser crash dumps for stack frames referencing QUIC session and stream objects.
Correlate web proxy logs with endpoint crash events to identify pages that consistently destabilize the browser.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable centralized collection of Chrome crash reports through enterprise management policies.
Track HTTP/3 and QUIC traffic patterns at the network edge for anomalous session churn from individual hosts.
Alert on unsigned or unexpected child processes launched by chrome.exe shortly after web browsing activity.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-3837

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 124.0.6367.60 or later on all managed endpoints.
Apply Fedora package updates referenced in the Fedora Package Announcement for affected Chromium builds.
Restart browser sessions after patch deployment to ensure the vulnerable code is unloaded from memory.

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome stable channel update on April 16, 2024. Details are in the Google Chrome Update Announcement. Downstream distributors including Fedora published corresponding package updates.

Workarounds

Disable QUIC in managed Chrome deployments using the QuicAllowed enterprise policy until patching is complete.
Restrict outbound UDP/443 at the network perimeter for hosts that cannot be patched promptly.
Enforce Site Isolation and ensure sandbox protections remain enabled to raise the cost of renderer compromise.

bash

# Disable QUIC via Chrome enterprise policy (Windows registry example)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v QuicAllowed /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

# Verify installed Chrome version
google-chrome --version