CVE-2024-7023: Google Chrome Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2024-7023 Overview

CVE-2024-7023 is an input validation vulnerability in the Updater component of Google Chrome on Windows. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6537.0 and stems from insufficient data validation [CWE-20]. A remote attacker who delivers a malicious file to a targeted system can leverage the weakness to escalate privileges through the update process. Google's Chromium team classifies the security severity as Medium, while NVD assigns a higher CVSS base score reflecting the privilege escalation impact on affected hosts.

Critical Impact
A remote attacker can chain a malicious file with the Chrome Updater to gain elevated privileges on Windows systems running Chrome versions before 128.0.6537.0.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6537.0
Microsoft Windows (platform on which the Chrome Updater runs)
Any downstream Chromium-based builds using the affected Updater component

Discovery Timeline

2024-09-23 - CVE-2024-7023 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7023

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Chrome Updater, the component responsible for keeping Chrome current on Windows endpoints. The Updater fails to sufficiently validate data it processes, allowing attacker-controlled input from a malicious file to influence privileged operations. Because the Updater executes with elevated rights to install and modify browser binaries, an attacker who supplies crafted input can pivot from user-context delivery to higher-privilege execution. The result is privilege escalation on the target host, mapped to the CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) weakness class.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of file-based input consumed by the Updater. Trust boundaries between user-writable content and the privileged updater workflow are not enforced correctly. Attackers can influence code paths that assume validated inputs, driving the Updater to act on untrusted data during install, repair, or update operations.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires the attacker to place a malicious file where the Chrome Updater will process it. The attack is network-reachable in that the malicious file can be delivered through web download, phishing, or shared storage. When the Updater processes the file, its elevated context enables the attacker to escalate privileges beyond those held by the delivering user account. Additional technical detail is tracked in the Chromium Issue Tracker entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7023

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected files written to Chrome Updater working directories such as %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Google\Update\ or %LocalAppData%\Google\Update\.
Chrome Updater processes (GoogleUpdate.exe, updater.exe) spawning unexpected child processes or loading unsigned modules.
Chrome installations reporting version strings below 128.0.6537.0 after a purported update cycle.

Detection Strategies

Monitor process lineage for the Chrome Updater and alert on anomalous child processes, especially those running with elevated tokens.
Track file writes and renames into updater-controlled directories originating from non-Google-signed processes.
Correlate browser version telemetry with expected patch baselines to surface hosts running vulnerable Chrome builds.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest endpoint process, file, and integrity-level telemetry into a centralized analytics platform for behavioral review.
Alert on privilege-elevation transitions initiated by browser or updater components.
Track Chrome version inventory continuously so that hosts pinned below 128.0.6537.0 are identified for remediation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7023

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 128.0.6537.0 or later on all Windows endpoints.
Verify that the Chrome Updater service is running and permitted to fetch updates from Google's distribution endpoints.
Audit endpoints for stale Chrome builds and prioritize patching systems used by privileged or high-risk users.

Patch Information

Google addressed the issue in Chrome 128.0.6537.0. Administrators should confirm client versions post-update via chrome://version or enterprise inventory tooling. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker entry for upstream tracking details.

Workarounds

Restrict user ability to write to directories consumed by the Chrome Updater where feasible via file system ACLs.
Block execution of untrusted files delivered via email or web download using application control policies.
Enforce enterprise update management through Chrome Browser Cloud Management or Group Policy so that endpoints move to fixed versions automatically.

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Windows (PowerShell)
(Get-Item "$env:ProgramFiles\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe").VersionInfo.ProductVersion

# Force Chrome update policy via Group Policy registry key
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Update" /v UpdateDefault /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f