CVE-2024-6290: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2024-6290 Overview

CVE-2024-6290 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Dawn component of Google Chrome prior to version 126.0.6478.126. Dawn is Chrome's implementation of the WebGPU standard, providing a cross-platform abstraction layer for graphics APIs. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page, which could lead to arbitrary code execution, information disclosure, or denial of service.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit heap corruption through maliciously crafted web content, potentially achieving arbitrary code execution within the browser context.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome prior to version 126.0.6478.126
• Fedora 39
• Fedora 40

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-06-24 - CVE-2024-6290 published to NVD
• 2024-12-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-6290

Vulnerability Analysis

This use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) exists within the Dawn graphics abstraction layer in Google Chrome. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior. In the context of Dawn, which handles WebGPU operations, this can be particularly dangerous as it processes potentially untrusted content from web pages.

The vulnerability requires user interaction (visiting a malicious page) but can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring authentication. Successful exploitation could result in heap corruption, which attackers can leverage to achieve code execution, access sensitive information, or crash the browser.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper memory management within the Dawn component. When certain objects are deallocated, references to those objects may persist elsewhere in the code. Subsequent operations using these dangling pointers access freed memory regions, leading to heap corruption. This type of vulnerability typically arises from complex object lifecycle management in graphics processing code where multiple components may hold references to shared resources.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must craft a malicious HTML page that triggers specific WebGPU operations through the Dawn component. When a victim navigates to this page:

1. The malicious JavaScript initiates WebGPU operations through Dawn
2. Specific sequences of API calls trigger the use-after-free condition
3. The attacker's crafted data corrupts heap memory
4. Heap corruption can be leveraged for further exploitation

The vulnerability can be exploited by convincing users to visit a specially crafted website or through malicious advertisements on legitimate sites.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6290

Indicators of Compromise

• Browser crashes or unexpected termination when visiting specific websites
• Unusual memory consumption patterns in Chrome processes
• Unexpected WebGPU-related error messages in browser console
• Signs of process injection or unexpected child processes spawned by Chrome

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Chrome browser versions across the enterprise to identify unpatched instances
• Deploy endpoint detection to identify exploitation attempts targeting browser memory corruption
• Implement network monitoring for connections to known malicious domains serving browser exploits
• Use browser isolation technologies to contain potential exploit attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable enhanced crash reporting to capture memory corruption incidents
• Monitor for unusual Chrome process behavior or unexpected GPU process activity
• Track browser update compliance across managed endpoints
• Review security logs for signs of post-exploitation activity following browser compromise

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6290

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 126.0.6478.126 or later immediately
• Enable automatic updates to ensure timely patching of future vulnerabilities
• For Fedora users, apply the latest security updates from the official repositories
• Consider deploying browser isolation for high-risk users until patches are applied

Patch Information

Google has released Chrome version 126.0.6478.126 which addresses this vulnerability. The patch information is available through the Chrome Blog Update. Additional technical details can be found at the Chromium Issue Tracker.

Fedora users should apply updates announced in the Fedora package announcements for both Fedora 39 and Fedora 40.

Workarounds

• Disable WebGPU functionality if not required for business operations
• Use browser isolation or sandboxing technologies to limit exploit impact
• Implement strict content security policies to reduce exposure to malicious content
• Consider using alternative browsers temporarily until patches can be deployed

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

# Force Chrome update check
# Navigate to chrome://settings/help in the browser address bar

# For Fedora systems, update Chrome package
sudo dnf update chromium