CVE-2024-4060 Overview
CVE-2024-4060 is a use after free vulnerability in the Dawn component of Google Chrome prior to version 124.0.6367.78. Dawn is the WebGPU implementation for Chromium, providing cross-platform GPU rendering capabilities. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page, which could lead to denial of service conditions or potentially more severe impacts through memory corruption.
Critical Impact
A remote attacker can exploit heap corruption through specially crafted web content, potentially causing browser crashes or memory corruption that could lead to further exploitation.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 124.0.6367.78
- Fedora 40 (via bundled Chromium packages)
- All Chromium-based browsers using affected Dawn component versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-05-01 - CVE-2024-4060 published to NVD
- 2025-11-04 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-4060
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416: Use After Free. The flaw exists within the Dawn component of Google Chrome, which serves as the native implementation of WebGPU. Use after free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use a memory reference after that memory has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that attackers can potentially exploit.
In this case, the vulnerability manifests during graphics processing operations where memory management errors in Dawn can be triggered through maliciously crafted HTML content. When exploited, the attacker can cause the browser to access memory that has already been deallocated, potentially leading to heap corruption.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper memory lifecycle management in the Dawn WebGPU implementation. When processing certain GPU-related operations through crafted web content, the code fails to properly track memory object lifetimes, resulting in references to freed memory being used in subsequent operations. This memory safety violation creates an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data could potentially influence freed memory regions.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must convince a user to visit a malicious web page containing specially crafted HTML and JavaScript code that triggers the vulnerable code path in the Dawn component.
The exploitation scenario involves:
- Attacker hosts or injects malicious content on a website
- Victim navigates to the compromised page
- Crafted HTML/JavaScript triggers WebGPU operations
- The use after free condition is triggered in Dawn
- Heap corruption occurs, potentially causing denial of service or memory disclosure
Since no verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available, detailed technical exploitation mechanics are documented in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry. The vulnerability requires specific sequences of WebGPU API calls to trigger the improper memory handling condition.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-4060
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected browser crashes during WebGPU-intensive operations
- Chrome crash reports indicating heap corruption in Dawn-related components
- Anomalous memory access patterns in browser process logs
- Suspicious web pages attempting to invoke WebGPU APIs excessively
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for Chrome/Chromium versions below 124.0.6367.78 in asset inventory
- Implement browser version enforcement policies through endpoint management
- Deploy network monitoring to detect access to known malicious pages exploiting this vulnerability
- Review crash telemetry for patterns consistent with use after free exploitation
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Chrome's crash reporting and monitor for Dawn-related heap corruption events
- Implement centralized browser version tracking across the enterprise
- Configure SentinelOne to alert on outdated browser versions in the environment
- Monitor for unusual WebGPU API usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-4060
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 124.0.6367.78 or later immediately
- Enable automatic updates for Chrome across all managed endpoints
- For Fedora 40 users, apply the latest Chromium package updates from official repositories
- Audit all systems for outdated Chrome/Chromium installations
Patch Information
Google has released a security update addressing this vulnerability in Chrome version 124.0.6367.78. The fix corrects the memory management issue in the Dawn component to prevent use after free conditions.
For detailed patch information, refer to:
Fedora users should apply updates via the Fedora Package Announcement.
Workarounds
- If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporarily disabling WebGPU functionality via Chrome flags (chrome://flags/#enable-unsafe-webgpu)
- Implement web filtering to block access to untrusted or suspicious websites
- Use browser isolation technologies for high-risk browsing activities
- Consider restricting Chrome to essential business sites via group policy until patching is complete
# Verify Chrome version on Linux
google-chrome --version
# Update Chrome on Fedora
sudo dnf update chromium
# Check for vulnerable versions in enterprise (example query)
# Look for versions less than 124.0.6367.78
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
