CVE-2024-7256: Google Chrome Dawn RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-7256 Overview

CVE-2024-7256 is an insufficient data validation vulnerability in the Dawn component of Google Chrome on Android devices. Dawn is Chrome's implementation of the WebGPU standard, which provides modern GPU capabilities to web applications. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on affected devices by tricking a user into visiting a maliciously crafted HTML page.

Critical Impact

Remote code execution through crafted web content targeting Android Chrome users, potentially leading to complete device compromise.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome on Android prior to version 127.0.6533.88
• Google Android devices running vulnerable Chrome versions
• Chrome-based browsers on Android that incorporate the vulnerable Dawn component

Discovery Timeline

• August 1, 2024 - CVE CVE-2024-7256 published to NVD
• January 2, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-7256

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from insufficient data validation within Chrome's Dawn component, which serves as the WebGPU implementation. WebGPU is a modern graphics API that provides access to GPU capabilities for rendering and compute operations in web applications. The insufficient validation allows specially crafted input to bypass security checks, ultimately enabling arbitrary code execution in the context of the Chrome renderer process.

The attack requires user interaction, specifically navigating to a malicious webpage. Once the victim visits the attacker-controlled page, the crafted HTML content can exploit the validation flaw in Dawn's data processing routines. This type of vulnerability in graphics processing components is particularly dangerous because GPU-related code often has elevated privileges for performance reasons.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified as CWE-345 (Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity) combined with general input validation deficiencies. The Dawn component fails to properly validate data being processed through the WebGPU interface, allowing malformed or malicious data to be accepted and processed. This insufficient verification enables attackers to inject crafted payloads that the component treats as legitimate, leading to code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires the victim to interact with malicious content. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by:

1. Creating a malicious HTML page containing crafted WebGPU content designed to exploit the Dawn validation flaw
2. Distributing the link via phishing emails, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites
3. When the victim navigates to the page using Chrome on Android, the malicious WebGPU payload is processed
4. The insufficient validation in Dawn allows the attacker's code to execute within the browser process

The exploitation does not require any special privileges on the attacker's part, though the victim must actively navigate to the malicious page. Due to the nature of WebGPU, the vulnerability specifically targets the graphics processing pipeline where validation gaps can have severe consequences.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7256

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual Chrome crashes or instability on Android devices, particularly when visiting unfamiliar websites
• Unexpected network connections originating from Chrome processes
• Anomalous GPU usage patterns or graphics-related errors in Chrome
• Evidence of unauthorized code execution or process spawning from Chrome

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Chrome version deployments across the organization to identify devices running versions below 127.0.6533.88
• Implement web filtering to block access to known malicious domains hosting WebGPU-based exploits
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of identifying anomalous browser behavior
• Review Chrome crash reports for patterns indicating exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable enhanced browser telemetry to capture WebGPU-related errors and crashes
• Configure SIEM rules to alert on unusual Chrome process behavior on Android devices
• Monitor for newly registered domains that may be used to host exploit pages
• Track security advisories from Google for additional indicators related to this vulnerability

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7256

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome on all Android devices to version 127.0.6533.88 or later immediately
• Enforce automatic Chrome updates through enterprise mobile device management (MDM) policies
• Advise users to avoid clicking links from untrusted sources until patches are applied
• Consider temporarily restricting access to WebGPU features if supported by enterprise policies

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 127.0.6533.88. The fix is included in the stable channel update released on July 30, 2024. Organizations should ensure all Android devices with Chrome are updated to this version or later. The update can be obtained through the Google Play Store or enterprise MDM distribution channels.

For detailed information about the security update, refer to the Google Chrome Update Announcement. Additional technical details may be available in the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry once disclosure restrictions are lifted.

Workarounds

• Deploy web content filtering to block known malicious sites and suspicious WebGPU content
• Use enterprise browser policies to restrict navigation to untrusted websites
• Consider using alternative browsers on Android devices until Chrome can be updated
• Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential browser compromises

# Verify Chrome version on Android via ADB
adb shell dumpsys package com.android.chrome | grep versionName
# Expected output should show 127.0.6533.88 or higher

# Force Chrome update check via Play Store
adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d "market://details?id=com.android.chrome"