CVE-2024-6990 Overview
CVE-2024-6990 is an Uninitialized Memory Use vulnerability affecting the Dawn component in Google Chrome on Android. This flaw exists in versions prior to 127.0.6533.88 and allows a remote attacker to potentially perform out-of-bounds memory access through a crafted HTML page. Dawn is Google's implementation of the WebGPU standard, providing graphics processing capabilities in Chrome. Due to improper initialization of memory in Dawn, attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access or manipulate memory outside intended boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure, code execution, or browser compromise.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability via malicious web pages to achieve out-of-bounds memory access, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or sensitive data exposure on affected Android devices running vulnerable Chrome versions.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome on Android prior to version 127.0.6533.88
- Google Chrome Desktop prior to version 127.0.6533.88
Discovery Timeline
- August 1, 2024 - CVE-2024-6990 published to NVD
- August 16, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-6990
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Dawn, Google Chrome's native WebGPU implementation that provides cross-platform graphics processing capabilities. When processing certain WebGPU operations, Dawn fails to properly initialize memory before use, resulting in an uninitialized memory access condition (CWE-908, CWE-457). This memory safety flaw can be triggered remotely when a victim visits a malicious webpage containing specially crafted WebGPU API calls.
The attack requires user interaction (visiting a malicious page), but once triggered, the uninitialized memory can be leveraged to read or write to memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. This could allow attackers to leak sensitive information from Chrome's memory space, corrupt critical data structures, or potentially achieve arbitrary code execution within the browser's sandbox.
Root Cause
The root cause stems from improper memory initialization in the Dawn graphics component. When certain code paths are executed within Dawn's WebGPU implementation, memory buffers are allocated but not properly initialized before being used. This allows previously stored data or attacker-controlled values to influence program execution, creating a pathway for out-of-bounds memory access.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, requiring the target user to navigate to an attacker-controlled webpage. The malicious page would contain crafted HTML and JavaScript code that invokes WebGPU APIs in a specific manner designed to trigger the uninitialized memory condition in Dawn. While user interaction is required to visit the malicious page, no additional authentication or special privileges are needed. The attack can be delivered through various means including:
- Phishing emails with links to malicious websites
- Compromised advertisements on legitimate websites
- Watering hole attacks targeting specific user groups
- Social media links leading to exploit pages
The vulnerability mechanism involves crafted WebGPU API calls that trigger improper memory handling in the Dawn component. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry and the Google Chrome Releases Blog.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-6990
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected Chrome crashes or instability when visiting unfamiliar websites
- Anomalous WebGPU API calls in browser console logs
- Chrome process memory anomalies or unexpected memory access patterns
- Network connections to known malicious domains serving exploit code
Detection Strategies
- Monitor Chrome version across enterprise endpoints to identify unpatched installations below 127.0.6533.88
- Implement browser isolation solutions to contain potential exploit attempts
- Deploy endpoint detection rules to identify suspicious Chrome child process behavior
- Analyze web traffic for known exploit patterns targeting WebGPU functionality
- Use SentinelOne's behavioral AI to detect anomalous browser memory operations
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Chrome's Enhanced Safe Browsing feature for additional protection against malicious sites
- Configure endpoint monitoring to alert on Chrome versions below the patched release
- Monitor for unusual GPU process activity or WebGPU-related crashes
- Implement DNS filtering to block known malicious domains
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-6990
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 127.0.6533.88 or later immediately
- Enable automatic Chrome updates across all managed endpoints
- Verify Chrome version on all Android devices in your environment
- Consider temporarily disabling WebGPU via Chrome flags if immediate patching is not possible
Patch Information
Google has released Chrome version 127.0.6533.88 to address this vulnerability. The patch was announced on July 30, 2024, via the Chrome Stable Channel Update for Desktop. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this update across all managed Chrome installations, particularly on Android devices.
For enterprise environments, administrators can use Chrome Browser Cloud Management or Group Policy to force updates. Mobile device management (MDM) solutions should be configured to enforce the minimum Chrome version requirement on managed Android devices.
Workarounds
- Disable WebGPU by navigating to chrome://flags/#enable-unsafe-webgpu and setting it to Disabled
- Use browser isolation technologies to execute untrusted web content in sandboxed environments
- Implement web filtering to block access to untrusted or potentially malicious websites
- Consider using alternative browsers temporarily until patching can be completed
# Verify Chrome version on Linux/macOS
google-chrome --version
# Enterprise Chrome update enforcement via command line (Windows)
# Run Windows Update or use WSUS/Intune for managed deployments
# Check for WebGPU status in Chrome
# Navigate to chrome://gpu and verify WebGPU feature status
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
