CVE-2024-6773: Google Chrome V8 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-6773 Overview

CVE-2024-6773 is a heap corruption vulnerability stemming from an inappropriate implementation in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome. This vulnerability affects Google Chrome versions prior to 126.0.6478.182 and can be triggered remotely when a user visits a maliciously crafted HTML page. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this heap corruption vulnerability to potentially execute arbitrary code on victim systems by luring users to malicious web pages, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 126.0.6478.182
• Canonical Ubuntu Linux 22.04 LTS (via bundled Chromium)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-07-16 - CVE-2024-6773 published to NVD
• 2024-12-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-6773

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-787 (Out-of-Bounds Write), which occurs when the V8 JavaScript engine writes data past the boundaries of allocated memory on the heap. The inappropriate implementation in V8 creates a condition where heap metadata or adjacent memory structures can be corrupted through carefully crafted JavaScript code embedded in an HTML page.

The network-based attack vector requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must navigate to a malicious webpage. Once the victim loads the crafted HTML page, the vulnerability can be triggered through JavaScript execution, potentially allowing attackers to corrupt heap memory and gain control over program execution flow.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in an inappropriate implementation within V8, Chrome's high-performance JavaScript and WebAssembly engine. V8 performs just-in-time (JIT) compilation and complex memory management operations that, when improperly implemented, can lead to heap corruption scenarios. The specific flaw allows memory writes to occur beyond the intended buffer boundaries, enabling heap corruption that can be leveraged for code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires minimal attacker prerequisites—only the ability to host or inject malicious content that victims will visit. The attack sequence typically involves:

1. An attacker crafts a malicious HTML page containing specially designed JavaScript code
2. The victim is lured to visit the malicious page (via phishing, malvertising, or compromised websites)
3. The V8 engine processes the malicious JavaScript, triggering the heap corruption
4. The corrupted heap state can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution

The vulnerability requires user interaction but has low attack complexity, making it a significant threat for browser-based attacks. Technical details regarding the specific exploitation mechanism can be found in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6773

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected Chrome browser crashes or abnormal process termination
• Suspicious JavaScript execution patterns in browser logs
• Network traffic to known malicious domains hosting exploit kits
• Anomalous memory allocation patterns in Chrome's V8 engine processes

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Chrome version deployments across endpoints to identify unpatched instances running versions below 126.0.6478.182
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting heap spray and heap corruption exploitation techniques
• Implement network-level inspection for suspicious HTML/JavaScript content delivery
• Configure browser telemetry to capture and alert on V8 engine crashes

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Chrome's crash reporting to centralize visibility into browser stability issues
• Monitor for unusual child process spawning from Chrome browser processes
• Track JavaScript execution anomalies through browser extension or EDR telemetry
• Review web proxy logs for access to known exploit kit landing pages

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6773

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 126.0.6478.182 or later immediately
• Enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely patch deployment
• Audit all endpoints to identify and remediate instances running vulnerable Chrome versions
• Consider temporary use of alternative browsers for high-risk users until patching is complete

Patch Information

Google has released Chrome version 126.0.6478.182 which addresses this vulnerability. The update is available through Chrome's automatic update mechanism or can be manually downloaded. For Ubuntu Linux users, updates are available through the standard package management system. Additional details can be found in the Google Chrome Update Announcement.

Workarounds

• Disable JavaScript execution in Chrome (significantly impacts browsing functionality)
• Implement strict content security policies (CSP) to limit JavaScript execution from untrusted sources
• Use browser isolation solutions to contain potential exploitation in sandboxed environments
• Deploy web filtering to block access to known malicious or untrusted websites

# Verify Chrome version via command line
google-chrome --version
# Expected output should show version 126.0.6478.182 or higher

# Force Chrome update check (Linux)
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade google-chrome-stable

# Enterprise deployment - check Chrome version across fleet
# Using Chrome Browser Cloud Management or similar MDM tools